Nick Tahou Hots
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Nick Tahou Hots is a Rochester, New York landmark restaurant famous for its Garbage Plate. The restaurant was founded by its namesake, Nick Tahou, who died in 1997 after running the establishment for over 50 years. It is a tradition for many RIT students to buy a garbage plate and eat it at his grave site on his birthday. There are many regional variants all based on the same theme (such as Penfield and Fairport Hots) but Nick's is widely regarded as the best, if not the original "Garbage Plate".
Patrons enter and are immediately facing a counter behind which is a sizzling grill. Several soup nazi-esque cooks are preparing piles of hot dogs, potatoes, etc. Informal and chaotic, the gruff staff are often short with indecisive patrons. This is just further proof of the food's greatness, that so many will endure hardship to savour the eatery's gritty delights.
A garbage plate is a disorganized combination of cheeseburger, hamburger, sausages, steak , hotdogs, white hots or eggs, on top of two out of (homefries, fries, beans, or macaroni salad) made to order. On top of that you get the options of mustard & onions and the signature ingredient: Nick's "hot sauce" - a greasy spiced sauce containing bits of meat. This comes with a side of white bread and butter. Customers may purchase from a choice of Pepsi products, either in a smaller cup (including one free refill) or a larger plastic souvenir cup, which may be brought back and refilled on return visits. All the ingredients are thrown together on a plate or in a takeout box, and a plastic knife and fork are provided. Most patrons typically smother this in either ketchup or Frank's Red Hot; A1 Steak Sauce is also usually available.
External links
- The urinals of Nick Tahou Hots (http://www.urinal.net/nick_tahou/)
- How to eat a Nick Tahou's Garbage Plate (http://www.ambrosiasw.com/Ambrosia_Times/November_97/4.6HowTo.html) More photographs of Garbage Plates
- Nick's Tribute and Dietary Information (http://people.cornell.edu/pages/sjs16/nicks.html)
- Home of the Garbage Plate (http://www.FreeEnterpriseLand.com/BOOK/TAHOU.html) article from FreeEnterpriseLand.com