Homemade Hot Dog Sauce Contest

Sponsored by Heiner's Bakery
at MCTC Cooking & Culinary Institute (presented by 103.3 WTCR)

If you make the best homemade hot dog sauce in the Tri-State, we're asking you to PROVE IT!

Local, "home" cooks (professionals and hot dog business/restaurant operators are not eligible) are being challenged to create the area’s “Top Dog.” If you've been told over and over how great your hot dog sauce is, THIS is the contest that can make YOU "TOP DOG" & YOUR HOT DOG SAUCE "AWARD-WINNING!"

It's easy! Make your sauce at home in the comfort of your own kitchen! Pack it safely in a thermos or appropriate container, and pack up your serving platter, small sauce pan, utensils, and any decorations you'll need for your presentation. Bring your entry to the Contest Registration table before 12:30, enter the contest, get your contest number, and we'll direct you across the street to the cooking school to prepare your six hot dogs for the judging at 1:15p.

Entries must be prepared on a Heiner’s bun (compliments of Heiner’s who will have fresh regular size buns on site for you to use to dress your entries as well as Cavalier wieners), and will be judged on overall taste, presentation to the judges and creativity. Since part of the score is based on presentation and originality, participants are encouraged to dress up their plate of six hot dogs to present to the judges and sing, dance, present in rhyme, dress in costume, etc. for the contest. Anything that makes you and your (should already be award-winning hot dog sauce) STAND OUT to one and all! Or someone may want to create a hot dog that reflects the local flavor of our City, such as a green and white hot dog...just get in the spirit and have some fun!

Creativity is the participant's choice. Just have fun with it--and bring your best made sauce from home. You'll be able to "dress your 6 hot dogs" inside the Cooking & Culinary Institute kitchen as early as 12:30, just prior to judging at 1:15p at the gorgeous Cooking & Culinary Institute. Enter your soon-to-be award-winning hot dog sauce at the festival registration tables on the day of the event by noon (absolutely no later than 12:30 please).

Judging will be tallied on 1) creativity of presentation to the judges; 2) originality of recipe's presentation/plating; and 3) overall taste. Click here to take at the judge's score card!

Contestants make their prize-winning hot dog sauce at home, pack it up safely, bring it to the WV Hot Dog Festival, and must register at the event registration table by noon (located at the Pullman clock, next to the courtyard stage), on the festival day. Contestants will have 1/2 hour to re-heat their sauce if necessary, and prepare their hot dogs for presentation at the MCTC Cooking & Culinary Institute for their six hot dogs in competition. The school is conveniently located across from Pullman Square on 3rd Avenue.

Contestants must supply any re-heating pans/tools, and all plating trays and materials for their presentation. You can prep for judging as early as 12:30. Sauce should be safely packed/stored in a thermos--enough homemade sauce to dress and serve on six hot dogs for the judges. At 1:15 p.m., the entries will be presented to a panel of six judges of chefs and local culinary experts and scores will be tallied inside the MCTC Cooking & Culinary Institute, on 3rd Avenue, across from Pullman Square.

At the conclusion of the contest, three winners will be chosen. The grand prize winner will be crowned “top dog” and given a prize pack and $100! All winners will receive a Heiner's prize in addition to various prizes to the "TOP DOG" winner courtesy of the Cooking & Culinary School, and the annual event's host: the Clear Channel Radio family...

WKEE/WTCR/B97.1/WAMX/WVHU/FOX SPORTS RADIO.

No need to pre-register....just get COOKING! Bring your entry to the festival on Saturday, July 31st. Minimum $10 entry fee donation required for the kids' fundraiser to enter the contest. You're well on your way to being crowned TOP DOG!

How to Help!

Please help the kids... click the button below. Any amount is helpful and appreciated!