Sacramento claims record with $145.49 hot dog

It became official Thursday afternoon, witnessed by about 60 well-wishing hot dog fans and friends. Mike Brown, owner of Capitol Dawg restaurant in Sacramento, now holds the Guinness World Records' "World's Most Expensive Hot Dog" title for his California Capitol City Dawg.

The three-pound sandwich sells for $145.49. A third of the proceeds from sales will benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Shortly after Brian Wheat, bass player for the Sacramento band Tesla, bought the first one (a dozen more are on order), Guinness World Records adjudicator Michael Empric presented the official certificate.

"I'm very excited to announce that with the price of $145.49, we have a new Guinness world record," he told the hooting, applauding crowd.

Then came a surprise presentation from Robert Abelon, representing state Assemblyman Richard Pan of the 5th Assembly District. In conjunction with Daniel Conway of the California Restaurant Association, they handed Brown a framed Assembly resolution in recognition of Capitol Dawg's achievement.

A little later, Brown said, "I'm proud of the accomplishment, but more proud of serving the community and raising money for the Shriners."

Brown created the ultra-dog "for the challenge and to bring the record back into the United States from Canada." He was referring to DougieDogs in Vancouver, which until Thursday held the title for its $100 Dragon Dog. That creation is a foot-long bratwurst injected with century-old $2,000-a-bottle Louis XIII cognac, and topped with lobster, Kobe-style beef cooked in truffle and olive oils, and a proprietary picante sauce.

Brown used all of his dog-designing expertise to construct the California Capitol City Dawg, tinkering with it for weeks.

The finished product is an 18-inch-long three-quarter-pound all-beef frank custom-made by Red Hot Chicago sausage company. It's nestled on an herbs-and-olive-oil focaccia roll custom-made by boutique coffee-maker/bakery Old Soul of Sacramento. The bun is smeared with Italian white truffle butter and toasted on the grill.

And then come the toppings: moose cheese from Sweden, maple syrup-marinated bacon from New Hampshire, Pommery whole-grain mustard from Meaux, France, garlic-herb mayonnaise, caramelized sauteed shallots, mixed baby greens, chopped tomato, sweetened dried cranberries, ground peppercorns and fruity balsamic vinaigrette from the Chef's Olive Mix store in Old Sacramento.

At three pounds, "it's such a big sandwich that you can share it with your friends, and share the cost," Brown said.

Capitol Dawg is at 1226 20th St., Sacramento; (916) 444-1226, www.capitoldawg.com.

• Read more articles by Allen Pierleoni

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