Tribute To Oscar Mayer - The Man Who Made Wisconsin Hot Dogs With Mustard An American Icon

This week Oscar G. Mayer died in Wisconsin. For most of his 95 years, Oscar G. Mayer was in the hot dog business started by his father and uncles in Chicago in the 1890's. The Mayers began the company selling their German-homeland inspired bockwurst, weisswurst and liverwurst sausages. But under the son's stewardship, the company became world famous for its Oscar Mayer hot dogs. Oscar Mayer moved to Madison, Wisconsin; became the state's largest private employer, and grew into a 1 billion dollar business. Through its strategic branding, ahead-of-its-time emphasis on food safety, and genius jingles, Oscar Mayer became a name sung in homes throughout the U.S.A. Generations of American parents have raised their children on Oscar Mayer hot dogs.
Young children typically start out enjoying their hot dogs plain, but then move on to squirting the hot dogs with ketchup, often LOTS of ketchup. But at picnics, sporting events, circuses, and side-walk sales, many adults are enjoying their hot dogs with mustard. Mustard is the traditional condiment for German sausages. Whether sweet, spicy, or hot, mustard best compliments the complex flavor of cured meats.
And just as Wisconsin is recognized for its frankfurters, it is also recognized for its mustards. Or at least there are those in Wisconsin who revere the fine taste of mustard. In fact, the nation's Mustard Museum is located here in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, and daily draws tourists to view the hundreds of mustards on display. Some mustards are relic jars from America's past, other jars are fresh and for sale in the museum gift store. And above them all are posters of happy people holding hot dogs slathered in mustard and having fun watching America's home-grown sport, baseball.
Baseball, apple pie, and hot dogs with mustard, - that's our culture. Good people having a good time, eating good food. Gotta' love it. Enjoy.