One never knows what they will find on the Lower East Side, but you can rest assured that you can always find something delicious.
I love the Lower East Side. For many immigrants of the 18th through the 20th century, it was their home when they first arrived in New York. Luckily, those immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Puerto Rico, and other wonderful places brought their culinary traditions with them.
I do have to admit, however, that I can pass only so many pasta places and taco joints before I become jaded about those genres of food. A few weeks ago, I was wandering around the Lower East Side looking for something new. Something unique. Something magnificently mind-blowing.
That’s when I saw it: a building clad in pink and blue carnival colors. The cheery, almost circus-style aesthetic stood out against the otherwise gritty and grey palate of this part of Manhattan. I wondered, What was going on here?
Swedish Hot Dogs
There was one definitive sign that whatever this place was, it would be up to scratch. A tall, joyful, Scandinavian man stood at a very small hot-dog kiosk outside of the shop grilling sausages. These were not just any sausages. He noticed my staring at him and asked if I would like a, “Swedish hot dog.”
Flashbacks of Iceland and the most delicious hot dog that I’ve EVER had flashed through my mind and turned my mouth into a waterfall. I had high hopes that his hot dogs would be similar, as Sweden and Iceland are in the same part of the world and share much of the same culture.
I ordered my “traditional Swedish-style dog,” and while I waited, was gifted a free Carlsberg beer, poured into a proper glass and everything. “It’s Swedish hospitality to offer your guest a beer while they wait for their food.” DAMN! This was already a great experience, and I didn’t even eat yet!
Within minutes, my Swedish cavalier had passed me my order: a delicious hot dog with perfect snap and topped with cucumber relish, crispy onions, and God knows what kind of sauce. (I told him to load it up.)
HEAVEN. The crispy onions totally reminded me of Iceland, and the cucumber relish is THE best condiment. The fresh tanginess contrasted nicely with the other more savory ingredients. I’m not even exaggerating when I say that I think about this hot dog at least twice a day.
Visiting BonBon NYC
My dude is SUPER good at marketing. The impromptu lunch was a great reason to check out the actual brick-and-mortar store behind him: BonBon NYC. While you can find a bunch of different Swedish foods and ingredients (I’m told meatballs are available during the holidays), everyone lines up outside for the Swedish licorice and candies.
You grab an adorable pink bag, a silver shovel, and walk around from drawer to drawer filling your parcel with whatever looks intriguing. I was a huge fan of the banana-flavored candies and all of the chocolates. However, salted licorice is evidently quite popular at this place, and as much as I thought I would love it…yeah, no.
Salty bitterness aside, this was a great way to spend a Sunday, and I highly recommend popping in to BonBon NYC! Grab some candies, mix them in you bag, shake them up, and see what you enjoy…or don’t enjoy! Keep in mind though, the hot dog cart only makes an appearance on Sundays.
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