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With so many new vegetarian meat alternatives appearing on the market, such as Impossible or the Beyond Burger, it's important to remember that food doesn't need to be made in a lab to taste good. In fact, if real veggies—those good 'ole plants sprouting up from the ground—are prepared creatively, they, too, can taste as filling, smoky and sumptuous as anything a tech bro was given billions of dollars to cook up. See: Jackfruit or enoki pulled pork or cantaloupe "steaks". Now, leaders in the NYC vegan food movement, by CHLOE. are offering their own version of vegetable "hot dogs" in collaboration with Harry & Ida’s. The playful recipe arrives just in time for National Hot Dog Day with a vegan-friendly option so that anyone can take part in the made-up holiday.
If you didn't get enough of American grilling staples this past Fourth of July weekend, perhaps The Carrot Dog will be your answer for a smoky summer. Siblings, Julie and Will Horowitz, owners of the East Village butcher shop, Harry & Ida’s place the same effort preparing the vegetarian alternatives as they do with their salami or mortadella: the girth-y carrots are cured and then slow-smoked for a week. Recently, their smoked "ham" made from a watermelon went viral.
The Carrot Dog collaboration with the vegan fast casual chain is served with Sir Kensington’s Classic Yellow Mustard and sauerkraut on a potato bun, for $6.75. And yeah, Harry & Ida's didn't invent The Carrot Dog: dozens of versions circle around on Pinterest. But the alternative joins a growing number of New Yorkers seeking plant-based offerings, made fun.
To launch the collaboration, New York photographer Jessica Pettway conceptualized a playful shoot with googly eyes, gem stone stickers and plenty of picnic plaids. Here, six time Guinness World Record holder, Takeru Kobayashi—given the title "The World’s Greatest Competitive Eater"—models the new Carrot Dog collab. If that wasn't wacky enough, Kobayashi is decked with nail art by Mei Kawajiri to finish off the kitsch of picnic culture.
“As a hot dog master, I’ve seen and tried many vegetarian hot dogs, and personally hadn’t found one that I enjoy until I tried by CHLOE.’s new Carrot Dog. The smoky taste of the carrot in the bun is something really unique and different, and I love that it’s made with only carrots and no processed ingredients,” shares Kobayashi in a press release.
The Carrot Dog is now available at all U.S. by CHLOE. locations until the end of July.
Looking for recommendations for the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in New York? We've got you covered.
Photograph: Jessica Pettway
Photograph: Jessica Pettway
Photograph: Jessica Pettway
Photograph: Jessica Pettway