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.

Please follow our Community Guidelines
sign up for the 425 Magazine newsletter
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

starbucks (4)...

John Curley Show

‘Your average ‘I’m in a job that I don’t like’ complaints’: KIRO host skeptical of Starbucks barista walkouts

Starbucks baristas walked off the job at multiple stores over the weekend, including one near the company's new Nashville headquarters.

8 hours ago

Tacoma House candidate Krista Perez...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘She’s running for office and from accountability’: Spike says ghosting DUI crash victim is a character issue for Tacoma House candidate

A Tacoma man whose truck was allegedly hit by Tacoma House candidate Krista Perez said no one contacted him for six days after the crash.

8 hours ago

tires...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘It’s all climate scam’: Jake fires back after California becomes first state to regulate what tires you can buy

California has become the first state in the country to regulate replacement tires, which could eliminate 70% of the tires currently sold in the state.

10 hours ago

katie wilson mayor recall...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘It hits the bar for malfeasance’: Jake and Spike weigh whether Mayor Wilson recall can clear legal hurdle

Jake and Spike discuss if Seattle Mayor Wilson's recall can overcome legal challenges in court.

10 hours ago

pioneer square shooting cameras...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘It’s not a boogeyman’: Jake and Spike debate turning Seattle’s cameras back on after Pioneer Square shootout

Jake and Spike agreed the cameras should be turned back on, but were split on how much weight to give the misuse of surveillance data.

11 hours ago

school speed cameras...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Is it about safety or money?’: Ursula questions Edmonds’ motive behind 24/7 school speed cameras

The Edmonds City Council voted 5-2 to keep school zone speed cameras running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

12 hours ago

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