World’s Best Hot Dog? Look North. (No, Further North.)

Iceland is renowned for many things, and I experienced many of them during my unforgettable trip there over the summer. For example:

• Stunning landscapes and scenery (Note: there’s a reason the Apollo astronauts came to Iceland to train for the lunar landing – it is truly otherworldly)
• Some of the happiest, most welcoming people in the world
• Volcanoes with breathtakingly long names like Eyjafjallajokull, which to me looks more like someone spilled some Scrabble tiles than the name of a volcano
• The Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa in the middle of a lava field, which is one of Iceland’s most popular destinations. Bathing in warm waters here is not only relaxing, it’s said to be beneficial for the skin.
• And, of course, the hot dogs

Wait… what?

That’s right. It turns out that Icelandic hot dogs are a pretty big deal. Who knew? Well, Bill Clinton, for one, and Kim Kardashian. Oh, and Conde Nast Traveler. (Apparently, I was late to the party.)

I don’t usually eat hot dogs, other than a ceremonial one every year during a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. The relationship can be summarized like this: I like Fenway franks. They generally do NOT like me.

As soon as I arrived in Iceland, though, I couldn’t stop hearing about these hot dogs. So I tried them at a highly recommended local stand called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (translated to “Best Hot Dogs in Town”).

I’ve generally benefited from trying new things, even if I’m initially skeptical. My experience with these hot dogs validated this approach… because they were fantastic!

Granted, this hot dog stand had celebrity credibility. And it was the most popular hot dog stand on the whole island. How popular, you might ask? Well, 70 percent of Iceland’s residents have eaten there. I’ve always followed a rule about eating where the locals eat, and in this case it seemed I was on fairly solid ground.

It turns out there is a reason these hot dogs are so delicious. For one thing, all the animals used are raised in Iceland, and the beef, lamb, and pork used are all free from hormones or antibiotics. Plus, the condiments are just different enough – homemade tomato relish, crispy garlic flakes, a sweet brown mustard that’s known as pylsusinnepto – to create a truly unique culinary experience.

What can I say? It was love at first bite. And second. And third.

So when I was finished, I did the obvious thing. I ordered another. And the next day I decided to try another hot dog stand … only to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, of course.  This time, I got the loaded version – and once again, was not disappointed.

You may now be thinking: So, this article is about Icelandic hot dogs? And the answer is yes… and no.

It’s really about discovery.

To me, venturing forth and experiencing new things is a huge part of being alive.

When we travel, we don’t have a routine – we are there to discover. Everything is different, eye-opening discoveries are the default… and that’s precisely why we have the kind of thrillingly new experiences we end up raving about. When we immersed ourselves in those moments in Iceland – whether it was relaxing at the famed Blue Lagoon, on our invigorating 16-mile hike past glaciers, waterfalls, and craters, or savoring those uniquely delicious hot dogs – it reminded us that there is so much more out there.

That mindset, and the openness it engenders, can lead to revelations – both when we’re traveling and when we’re at home. It comes more easily when we’re away, of course, but that openness can give us a whole new perspective in our own backyard, too. If I had said to myself, “I know what a hot dog tastes like, I don’t need to try this one,” then I never would have had that epicurean epiphany in Reykjavik. Because I did, I not only have a new favorite hot dog… I’ve expanded my world a bit.  Which is one of the things that makes life truly exciting.

So the next time you are thinking of going on vacation to the same place you’ve gone before – or ordering the same thing again on the menu – why not venture forth and try something new? Whether you’re at home or abroad, open your mind and try something new… you might just be amazed!