KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘It’s foreign to me’: Curley celebrates Seattle Dog’s national title, admits he can’t tell brisket from barbecue

Jul 1, 2026, 4:19 PM | Updated: 4:21 pm

The Seattle Dog was named America’s best regional hot dog in a New York Times Wirecutter taste-testing video.

In light of the hot dog contest, KIRO host John Curley shared his experience at an event with brisket and barbecue.

“I went to this thing the other night, and the guy had brisket and barbecue. And he was like, ‘Oh, the brisket, oh, I get up at like three in the morning, and I start tenderizing’ — the whatever it is, brisket right?” Curley said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “So I go there. It’s good food, I guess. The guy seemed really nice. Got stuff there. And he’s like, ‘OK, so that’s the sauce for the brisket, and that’s for the barbecue.’ So I put the chunk of meat on the plate, and I didn’t know what the brisket was compared to the barbecue, and that’s like, you’ve got to give up your man card if you don’t know the difference between the two.”

“So I reached over, and I got the one sauce, and I’m making eye contact with him, and I’m starting to pour it, the fat sauce on the hunk of brown meat, not knowing the difference between the brisket and the thing. He goes, ‘Whoa, whoa, that’s the barbecue!’ I was like, ‘Oh, sorry. I was up all last night thinking about this. Hey, I’m sorry, lack of sleep. You’re right. Thanks for helping me there,'” he continued. “And I was like, right on this other pile of meat, which is apparently all brisket. Just, it’s foreign to me.”

Seattle Dog beats 7 other styles from around the country

The iconic Seattle Dog was loaded with cream cheese, caramelized onions, and jalapeños.

“What the cream cheese does is navigate very well into the sweetness of the onion, the mustard, and the jalapeño, almost becomes a diplomat that brings everything together,” world-renowned chef José Andrés said during the contest.

“Yes, like a diplomat,” Curley said.

Seattle took first place, beating out seven other regional styles from around the country, including the Chicago dog, the New York dog, and the Cincinnati dog.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

John Curley on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to tom and curleyTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for The John Curley Show.

John Curley

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

'Is there going to be smooth sailing?': Spike questions election monitors as Ferguson offers Nation...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘Is there going to be smooth sailing?’: KIRO hosts debate Ferguson’s offer of National Guard support for WA elections

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s offer of National Guard support for election security prompted a debate over voter intimidation.

7 minutes ago

‘You're still living good’: Gee pushes back on pension fears in WA millionaires’ tax debate...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘You’re still living good’: Gee pushes back on pension fears in WA millionaires’ tax debate

Campaign warnings that Washington’s new millionaires’ tax could reach public pensions prompted Gee Scott to draw a distinction: What the law does now is not the same as what lawmakers might change later.

1 hour ago

Apple Cup 2027...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

Apple Cup in August? Spike says the historic rivalry is losing its magic

Next year's Apple Cup rivalry between the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars will be played in August for the first time ever.

3 hours ago

Washington PAC Donors...

Charlie Harger

Harger: Washington PACs could take $7,500 per donor last week. Now the sky’s the limit with just days to go until the election

On Friday, 11 days before the election, the state Public Disclosure Commission announced it will stop enforcing Washington's limit on big last-minute checks to political campaigns.

4 hours ago

‘It's a motorcycle’: Spike backs charging parents over kids’ illegal e-moto riding...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

‘It’s a motorcycle’: Spike backs charging parents over kids’ illegal e-motorcycle riding

Filling in on the John Curley Show, KIRO Newsradio host Spike O’Neill supports holding parents criminally accountable when they enable their children to ride electric motorcycles illegally, arguing that families need to understand the dangers before buying one.

17 hours ago

‘But I think we've gotten a little bit greedy’: Angela questions Seattle’s Prop 1 tax increas...

John Curley Show

‘I think we’ve gotten a little bit greedy’: Angela Poe Russell questions Seattle’s Prop 1 tax increase

Angela Poe Russell questioned the size of Seattle’s proposed transit tax increase, voters are repeatedly being asked to approve renewals.

17 hours ago

‘It’s foreign to me’: Curley celebrates Seattle Dog’s national title, admits he can’t tell brisket from barbecue