Defending the Icelandic Hotdog

I never imagined that taking a study abroad trip to Iceland would lead me to defend a hotdog as if my life depended on it.

One of Iceland's many famous cuisines is a somewhat peculiar-looking hotdog. In Iceland it is called a "pylsa". It’s topped with a mysterious brown sauce, crispy onions, and made with lamb meat. As someone already suspicious of the vagueness surrounding the American hotdog, the thought of trying one with additional unfamiliar ingredients was daunting.

On the first day of the trip, I quietly decided I would be okay with not trying the hotdog. With all the amazing new foods I had tried that strongly represent Icelandic culture, I was okay with missing out on just the one. When a few of my classmates decided to venture out to the famous Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur stand, I offered polite smiles and reassuring nods, all while sticking to my plan.

By day two, my plan was already beginning to crack. I may be a hotdog hater, but my need to try new foods, especially with different cultures was winning. I began to say things like, “I’m not against trying one.” or a nonchalant, “If everyone else wants to stop for one, I'm going to get one too.”

By day three, I caved. My curiosity had grown too strong, and I decided that I couldn’t leave Iceland without tasting the famous hotdog. My class opted to shorten "hotdog" to just "dog". At the stand, I placed my order with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I asked for the hotdog with everything on it except mayonnaise due to my egg allergy. Navigating my allergy in Iceland was easier than I’d ever experienced back home in the U.S. Instead of confusion or a manager needing to intervene, I always got a clear “yes” or “no” from the staff about ingredients. It was refreshing and reassuring.

When the hotdog finally arrived, I could barely contain my excitement. I took my first bite, and the juicy, flavorful combination of lamb, sweet brown sauce, and crispy onions took me by surprise. It wasn’t just good it was pretty much life-changing. The American hotdog was nothing compared to this. Naturally, I went back for seconds.

From that moment on, the Icelandic hotdog became a staple of our trip. My classmates and I went from being hesitant to stopping for one almost every day. One of my friends even managed to set a record by eating 20 hotdogs in total.

I didn’t hit 20 myself, but I didn’t need to. By the end of the trip, I was ready to defend this Icelandic hotdog like my life depended on it.