Blog Posts by The Daily Meal

Experts weigh in on how to take the American classic to the next levelBall games, barbecues, and boardwalks all share one very tasty link - the hot dog. Although it's about as iconic as a food can get in this country, the wiener's origin remains surprisingly unclear. On one point, however, we're all in agreement: On a summer afternoon, it's perfect washed down with a glass of something bubbly and ice-cold.





Click here to see 11 Tips for Making the Perfect Hot Dog

Yet there are lots of ways to prepare this most crowd-pleasing of treats - and just as many experts out there who are elevating the art of the dog. To start, there's the choice of the meat itself, then the cooking method (grilling, boiling, deep-frying), the matter of what to put on top (salty, sweet, cheesy), and how to handle the bun (toasted, soft, handmade). To help us assess the options and learn how to create the perfect hot dog at home - after all, most of us don't have access to equipment more advanced than a stovetop or a barbecue - we checked in with masters Randy Watts of Nathan's

Simple tricks that can make a huge difference in the kitchenWatching an experienced home cook prepare a meal can seem like an artful and well-executed performance: Stirring at just the right moment, removing roasting foods from the oven, and searing hot steaks to perfection without any stress, screams, or mishaps. (Though, mistakes will inevitably happen to even the best.)

Click here to see 11 Tips All Home Cooks Should Know

For those who are inexperienced in the kitchen, cooking can seem a little intimidating because it might feel clumsy or awkward doing new things. But as any cook can tell you, mastering the kitchen just takes practice and being OK with making mistakes - what's the worst that can happen?

Click here to see 20 Foods Everyone Should Know How to Cook

While we can't provide you with practice or help you avoid all mistakes, we can offer some tips that might make it easier for you. Like never refrigerate your tomatoes. Ever. (Makes them mealy and flavorless.)

Click here to see 8 Tips for Better Guacamole

For both advanced and

Outlandish desserts that take a sweet finish to over-the-top heightsIt seems like every week, some ambitious soul comes out with the latest and greatest in luxurious food creations, from pizza topped with four varieties of caviar and truffles to a grilled cheese stuffed with fried macaroni and cheese on a doughnut bun. In the world of frozen treats, the stakes are just as high, as people come out with one outrageous dessert after another.

Click here to see 15 Outrageous Frozen Desserts

How over-the-top? Well, some of these concoctions are just plain bizarre. Take for example a Japanese ramen soup topped with two soft-serve ice cream cones, or a baked potato fashioned out of vanilla ice cream and cocoa.

Click here to see Failed Products of Major Brands

Then there's the overly luxurious sundae (courtesy of Serendipity 3 and Three Twins Ice Cream), the overly large variety (thanks to Cabot's Ice Cream and Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour), and optical illusion extravagances like the bite-sized confection from WD~50 that looks like a bagel but is actually a

A look at the most creative combinations of food and high school educationNavigating a lunchroom filled with jocks, goths, preps, and drama kids is no easy task. Luckily for some, the reward is huge - students today have far more to look forward to come lunchtime than past generations. If cafeteria food makes you think of hamburgers on stale buns, tiny milk cartons, and mystery meat, think again. You won't find any Sloppy Joes on this list - extra sloppy or not. Think fresh produce, local fish and meat-free meals.






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With the school year drawing to a close and summer vacation a few weeks away, let's take a look back at what high school students across the country indulged in during lunch period.

Click here to America's Oldest Restaurants

America's high schools are also providing food-focused programs that will blow you away. Students across the nation are getting the opportunity to run farms, staff school cafés, work as chefs, and play with their food - with very impressive results.

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A look at the nation's longest-running dining establishmentsWhat can you expect from one of America's longest-running restaurants? A timeless design and a menu concept that's build to last, a roster of famous clientele (often including former presidents), and sometimes even a disaster or two (a number of places in this collection were rebuilt after devastating fires and floods).



Click here to see America's Oldest Restaurants

But more than these quantitative characteristics, the oldest restaurants in the country have lasted this long because of unique qualities that are much tougher to define.

Click here to see The Birthplaces of American Fast Food

For instance, Breitbach's Country Dining opened in Balltown, Iowa, in 1852 and is one of the oldest family-run restaurants in the nation. Breitbach's suffered a fire in 2007 that destroyed the building, and immediately the community rallied to help rebuild the structure. Exactly 10 months later the restaurant burned down again, but again the community rebuilt Breitbach's. Clearly the livelihood of

Beware of these iced coffee calorie bombsIt seems like some sort of cruel joke that the warm-weather season's tastiest drinks - thick and creamy milkshakes, rich blended frappes, and the like - can be some of the biggest threats to your swimsuit figure.

Click here to see Diet-Busting Fast-Food Iced Coffees

In the coffee category, at least, one has the sensible choice of a simple iced coffee to satisfy the craving for a cool quencher. According to a story on EatingWell.com, "A straight-up iced coffee (with skim milk, which you might have to specify) is, of course, the skinniest sip - most of the 16-ounce varieties deliver less than 100 calories."

Click here to see America's 30 Most Powerful People in Drink

But before you get all excited and go ordering iced coffees off every menu you come across, remember that not all of them are good low-calorie options - typical iced coffee add-ins and toppings like flavored syrups, whole milk, and whipped cream can make your drink's calorie count skyrocket in no time at all.

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A guide to the original locations of iconic American fast-food chainsThe fast-food industry in this country has a long and storied history. The founders in this field built mega-empires based on the pursuit of the American dream, and in the process spurred a love-hate relationship that affects most people who live here.




Click here to see The Birthplaces of American Fast Food

Given the ways that fast food influences everything from American pop culture to politics to dietary trends, it's fascinating to look back on the origins of the biggest players in the industry. One of the first fast-food chains to emerge was White Castle, founded by Bill Ingram in Wichita, Kan. in 1921; the design of the original White Castle was inspired by the Water Tower building in Chicago.

Click here to see One-of-a-Kind High School Lunches

The novel and efficient system developed by the McDonald's brothers at their original San Bernardino, Calif., location inspired a handful of other up-and-coming entrepreneurs to try their hand in the industry, namely Keith J. Kramer and

A celebration of ladies who do exactly what they want, exactly when they want toThe ever-evolving world of culinary professionals in this country is not unlike the cut-throat industries of politics and finance. The rate at which women are becoming professional chefs is continuing to increase, but the superstar names in the field still tend to be overwhelmingly male. So those women who aim to make their mark in the food world need to have twice the drive, passion, and talent that their male counterparts do in order to claim success - and this collection highlights the exceptional individuals who have achieved their dream.

Click here to see the Top 15 Badass Women Chefs in America

The focus of this story is badass chefs -the kind of women who do exactly what they want to do exactly when they want to do it without regard for how the public (or critics) may perceive them. Why is it important to single out the women chefs of the country based on their toughness? Because the kitchen is still largely a man's world, with a culture built on harassment, extreme physical