Week 6 Feb 5 - 11

The Coney Dog!

Yes.  I've had a Coney Dog before, believe it or not.  What is new about this experience for me is that I stopped and had one at the famous Lafayette Coney Island in Detroit.  I was in Detroit at a business dinner at the Renaissance Center, not looking forward to my long drive back to Belding.  A friend of mine was staying in town and mentioned he was going to Lafayette Coney later that evening.  It was only a few blocks away on Lafayette Street. 

So what's the big deal?  Well, on Man vs. Food, they featured this restraunt along with its neighbor, American Coney Island.

So, American Coney Island was first, started in 1917 by greek immigrant Constantine "Gust" Keros and his brother.  I could not find the brothers name.  Any who, Gust and his brother had a disagreement causing the brothers to split the business soon after.  Since then, they have opperated next to each other, in competition, passing the businesses down generation to generation. 

Aparently Detroiters have their preferences; either a Lafayette person or an American Coney person.  Well, I had to find out which I was, so I chose to start with the Lafayette experience.  If was fine.....a coney dog.  It is served almost cafeteria style.  A great coney dog, in a unique atmostphere. 

Bonus Interesting Fact (or not) - While checking my facts on the Lafayette / American Coney origins, I stubbled accross a Wikipedia page about Coney Island Hot Dogs.  Where do they originate?  Coney Island, New York?  Nope, Jackson, Michigan.  Here's the link Wikipedia Coney Dog.  This goes on about the different types of Coney Dogs in the differnt areas in southeast Michigan such as Jackson, Detroit, and Flint. 

Ok, so these Coney Dogs facts were interesting for about a minute.  More for me now since I had to look the stuff up.  The bad part about knowing detailed information about such a frivolous subject is that if you share it as fact in conversation, you come off as being "that guy".  But, I guess it's safe in this situation since you know the backstory now.

So, I now vow to trek to American Coney Island on Lafeyette St. in Detroit and sample their Coney Dog.  I'll let you know how it turns out.