Hot diggity: Philly's great hot dogs

Philadelphia has always been a cheesesteak city. Hoagie mecca, completely. Burger town, yes, and getting better all the time. Now, finally, with a wave of trendy and upscale offerings, building on a foundation of old-school staples, Philly can finally claim another point of pride: great hot dogs.We've got the city's most lauded chefs making their own links, multiple new hot dog stands experimenting with flavor combinations, and a proud representation of the "Texas Weiner" lineage. We even have our own local signature, a long-running custom of franks topped with fish cake. It's time to claim our title as a respectable Hot Dog Hub. Since the Philadelphia frankfurter experience involves the individual freedom to choose pork or beef, to select meat texture and casing, to decide on bun size and fluff factor, and to debate just how far toppings can and should rightfully go, what better time than this coming Independence Day to offer readers a guide to the local dog deluge — to be enjoyed in the pursuit of hot dog happiness.