We’d heard that Jamie Lauren—the tattooed New York-born chef of Absinthe and former Top Chef contestant—has an obsession with shoes, but we had no idea that she is also really obsessed with hot dogs.

“To be honest, I usually get the bacon-wrapped hot dogs from those late-night carts in the Mission, topped with caramelized onions, fried jalapenos and whatever else they put on there—but no mayo, because that doesn’t belong on a hot dog. I always feel a little sick after eating one, but that’s just the price you pay. At Absinthe, we serve our own version of those street dogs for staff meal pretty frequently. I love the dogs at Papaya King and Gray’s Papaya in New York City. When I’m back East I’ll stock up—I buy a package of Sabrett’s dogs, the special Papaya King onions in sauce and the mustard and bring them back home with me. Here in SF, I also go to Rosamunde’s, where I’ll have either the andouille or the beer sausage. And occasionally, I’ll get a dog at Costco—but only because they’re so cheap. A hot dog and a soda for $1.50? You can’t beat that deal. Because I’m so obsessed, I started serving home-made hot dogs with home-made condiments at Arlequin and the bar at Absinthe.”

Rosamunde Sausage Grill, 545 Haight St. 415-437-6851
Arlequin, 384B Hayes St. 415-626-1211

Check out our other gallery of Obsessed Food people here.