(upbeat music) - On this episode of "Field Trip," we're gonna go throughout the capital district and find out how the sausage is made.

In the capital district, there's a phenomenon of mini hot dogs.

There's all these different places that make these little hot dogs that have a bunch of toppings on top.

- What's your favorite?

- I don't know, let's go find out.

(upbeat music) First up, Famous Lunch.

(mellow violin music) - All right, there you go.

- [Guest] Thank you.

- My name's Scott Vasil.

I'm the third generation here, basically.

My family started 1932.

(mellow violin music) My grandmother's brother or Chris Seamon, they ran through till early '60s.

And then, my dad, my uncle, took over and I eventually took over in the '90s.

- I'm Melina and I'm the fourth generation or at least, I'm hoping to be the fourth generation (chuckles), if all goes well.

- The mini hotdog was from around here in Troy, and there was a few places, Charlie's was next door and, I don't know, it was like a popular thing.

- The big thing that the hotdog provided was it was a local product.

You know, the hotdogs came from the local meat store and the rolls came from a local bakery.

So everybody had a little bit of a touch in the product that you were getting.

(mellow violin music) Nice to meet you, thank you so much.

Thank you.

- Next up, Hot Dog Charlie's.

(mellow instrumental music) - My name is Chuck Fentekes, I am the owner of Hot Dog Charlie's.

Hot Dog Charlie's, been in business for 100 years now.

Started in 1922, I am the third generation.

I started out as a kid going to work with my father down in Congress Street in Troy.

Look forward to every Saturday, you know, learning the business, working with the help, the customers.

Just something I enjoyed through my childhood.

Classic way is the works with the mustard and onions and our meat sauce, chili meat sauce.

Well, my grandfather, you know, made the sauce, the mini hotdogs, but back years ago with my father, he started to put the sauce in the jars and bottle it and distribute to the markets.

And we also sell it online at hotdogcharlies.com.

I ship it out all over the country.

I don't know, Greeks are just known for the meat sauce and the hotdogs.

I really don't know how it started.

It's not really a thing in Greece, so.

- I don't know, actually.

I don't think it's a traditional Greek thing, but... - Our original location was in Congress Street, right next to Famous Lunch.

We were there first in 1922, and then, later, Famous opened up next door, I think 10 years later.

And we were both down there for years.

- I think everybody has a pretty similar product.

Everybody's good.

I think ours is better.

(Melina and Scott chuckling) - Everyone had their favorite.

You know, some would go to Charlie's, some go to Famous, but back then, Congress Street was busy.

Troy was busy.

We all made money and you know, we all got along.

- That was amazing.

Let's take these and some others back to the station.

- Find the WMHT favorite.

- Yes!

- Yes.

- Tasting time.

(mellow violin music) - This is my first time for a televised hotdog picnic.

This is amazing.

Okay, so I'm just gonna say right off the bat, they all look very similar.

- This is so fun.

Are you rolling?

- [Producer] I am rolling.

- Okay.

- Oh, they're not chili.

- Yeah, I think the only thing I'm seeing different is, the sauce.

Is this sauce or is it chili?

- So I'll be really mad if I can't tell which one is Famous Lunch, honestly.

I grew up in Troy, I need to know this.

(mellow violin music) Is this supposed to be like wine where I'm supposed to be smelling it first and wafting it?

(mellow violin music) (participant chuckling) - Interesting, I got a really doughy nose on this one.

- Little spicier than I would imagine.

- The sauce is not spicy.

(participant chuckling) - The meat sauce with that one works really, really well with the mustard.

- Packs a bit of a punch to it, very flavorful, very flavorful.

♪ Flavors ♪ - That is delicious.

- Are they all from different places?

- Now this one already has a different form and texture to the other ones.

I think the onions are more prominent in this one.

Oh, much more prominent in this one, so we'll see.

- This tastes nothing like anything I've ever chewed before.

- I'm gonna go with B.

(participant laughing) - This is the winner for me.

- I'm gonna go with number three.

- Yeah, all in all, this one is best.

No way.

No!

- All right, Matt, the results are in.

- Oh my gosh, the results.

Look at these.

Who would've thought?

- I know.

- Wow, okay, by a small margin... - Ted's Fish Fry has taken the station vote.

- How about a round of applause?

- Round of applause.

(audience applauding) - We loved 'em all.

- We loved 'em all.

- All the dogs were great.

- Thank you for joining us on this episode of "Field Trip."

Make sure to visit us at wmht.org/fieldtrip and let us know what hotdog you like the most.

- And, let us know where you think we should go next.

(hosts chuckling) (upbeat music) (host chattering) I like how it hovers the mustard and the onions, so it makes it a easy bite.