I spent $150 on gourmet hot dog buns and they were worse than the 99 cent ones

I went to a fancy bakery in Portland last month and bought their artisanal brioche hot dog buns for a cookout. They cost $3.50 each, and I got 40 of them thinking they'd make my chili dogs amazing. They fell apart in my hands, got all soggy from the chili, and everyone actually preferred the cheap store brand ones I had as backup. Has anyone else been burned by overpriced comfort food ingredients like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor_adams1mo ago

Store brand buns are the way to go for chili dogs every time. What works for me is finding those split top buns from the regular grocery aisle, the ones that are a little squishy but have a flat side that stays firm. Toasting them lightly before adding chili helps a ton, keeps them from turning into a mess. That fancy bakery stuff is better for plain grilled sausages where the bread can shine on its own, not for messy toppings.

patricia3171mo ago

Well, bless your heart, I think we've all been there in one way or another. I once spent $25 on some fancy organic ketchup because the label said it was "small batch" and "heritage style." Turned out it tasted like somebody squeezed a tomato that was having a bad day right into the bottle. My husband refused to even touch it, and I ended up pouring the whole thing down the sink and buying the regular stuff at the dollar store. Sometimes you just have to learn the hard way that cheap and cheerful wins over fancy and fussy, especially when chili and mustard are involved.