National Coney Island with Carl Tart

"National Coney Island with Carl Tart" is an episode of the premium-content podcast, *Doughboys Double*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "National Coney Island with Carl Tart" was released on January 28, 2020.

## Synopsis

Carl Tart (*Comedy Bang! Bang!*, *The Good Place*) joins the 'boys to review National Coney Island, a Michigan based Greek-American diner that specializes in Coney dogs. Plus, a very Doughy new segment.

(Recorded live in Detroit, Michigan)

## Nick's intro

"*If there's a rivalry, it's them against us... because we're killing them.*"

These fighting words, as quoted in a 2016 Munchies profile, are from Grace Keros, the granddaughter and current operator of one of two Coney dog stands that meet at the intersection of Lafayette and Michigan Avenue in Detroit.

In 1917, Greek immigrant Gus Keros, grandfather of Grace, opened American Coney Island at the juncture, slinging inexpensive chili sauce-laden dogs to locals. So popular was his product that Gus imported his brother Bill to help out, but in an act of betrayal out of Greek tragedy, Bill quit and opened competing outfit, Lafayette Coney Island, next door, using a different chili recipe and dog provider.

A bitter rivalry over who lays claim to Detroit's top Coney dog continues to this day, even after Bill Keros sold his business to his employees.

Though the name evokes the New York neighborhood/amusement park, the Coney Dog - a frank topped with thin meat-chili sauce - is a Motor City creation. The name is meant to associate with the quality of Coney Island's tube steaks, back from when the term 'hot dog' had negative connotations due to Upton Sinclair's muckraking meatpacking expose, *The Jungle*.

And it's these two warring stands that helped make the Coney Dog one of the city's signature bites and a staple at Greek and Macedonian-owned eateries. In 1965, Greek-American restaurateur James Giftos opened a Coney Dog stand in the Macomb Mall in Roseville, Michigan. After successfully growing to three locations focused on dogs and burgers, Giftos had the idea to expand the footprint and menu, making his concept into a full-service diner. The gambit paid off and Giftos' king-sized Coney concept too became a key part of Detroit's culinary identity.

So it's the relative newcomer above the fray of Coney Dog-related generational trauma that's been able to expand most aggressively and that, though it's not exactly national, now has twenty locations in the metropolitan Detroit area.

This week on *Doughboys*: National Coney Island.

## Fork rating

* Small Hani
* Coney Dog
* Loose Burger
 Mike Mitchell
* Small Hani
* Coney Dog
* Loose Burger
* Boston Cooler
 Carl Tart
* Vanilla Hand-Dipped Milkshake
* Pecan Pie
 shared
* French Fries
* Cookies and Cream Pie

With these scores, National Coney Island joins the Golden Plate Club!

## Buddy's and the Jet's

In this segment, The Doughboys compare two Detroit pizza joints: Buddy's Pizza and Jet's Pizza.

They all really loved both places, but made their choices, with Mitch and Carl defeating Nick's choice.

 Mike Mitchell
 Carl Tart

Buddy'sJet's Pizza

## Quotes

**Mitch**: You're a fucking grade A dork, you know that?

## #hashtags

* #FalNotAwful
* #JetsStream vs. #MyBuddyandMe

## Related Episodes

* 364. Buddy's Detroit-Style Pizza
* 145. The Slice Is Right: Semifinals 1
* 203. Waffle House
* 204. Hattie B's
* 219. Ben's Chili Bowl
* 220. CAVA
* DD. Wawa
* 222. Rita's Italian Ice
* 235. Culver's
* DD. **National Coney Island**
* 236. Swensons
* 242. Mac Attack: Round of 32 (part 1)
* 243. Mac Attack: Elite Ate
* 244. Mac Attack: Finals
* DD. Wige Hard
* 292. Pie Noon: Semisoft Finals
* THON21: Doughathon 2021
* 302. Taco Bell 5
* DD. The Mitchy Clause
* 341. Hero's Journey: Sub-Optimal: Semisoft Finals
* 350. D'Angelo
* 351. Kelly's Roast Beef
* 352. Bertucci's
* DD. Gorko's Planet Clergmas Spectacular
* 406. Taco John's
* 409. Do-Rite Donuts

## Photos

Mozzarella Cheese SticksBaby Greek SaladFrench FriesConey DogsSmall HaniConey Dogs (with Cheese)