Are Hot Dogs Sandwiches?

When it comes to the correct definition of a sandwich, I’m a strict constructionist. I believe we must look to the Earl of Sandwich’s original intent, which is why I’ve been dubbed the Scalia of Sandwiches.

Even with my conservative approach to sandwichdom, I consider a hot dog to be a sandwich. That’s why I was shocked to see recently that a man I respect and admire, Judge John Hodgman, had ruled that hot dogs are not sandwiches.

He writes, “Unlike any sandwich, you would NEVER cut and serve a hot dog in halves, unless under some weird duress. A half sandwich may be saved or shared, but a hot dog is a unity.

Listen to the above clip from The Sporkful, in which I dismantle Judge Hodgman’s verdict piece-by-piece. Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. And check out next week’s whole show on hot dogs for much more.

Where do you stand? Are hot dogs sandwiches?