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pogo
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
n. — proprietary, Food
a battered and deep-fried hot dog, served on a stick (see Image 1).
Type: 3. Semantic Change — Pogo in other locations generally refers to the spring-loaded jumping toy. In Canada, however, the term also refers to the fairground food. Pogo is most frequent in Canada (see Chart 1). The brand Pogo was started in Montreal according to the company's website. A trademark for POGO and the original recipe was filed in 1966 and registered in 1967 by Leopold Kerr in Duvernay, QC (see Canadian Trade-marks Database reference). Today, pogo is used as a general term for any battered hot dog, which outside of Canada is usually called "corn dog".
See also COD-2, s.v. "pogo" (2), which is marked "Cdn proprietary".
See also COD-2, s.v. "pogo" (2), which is marked "Cdn proprietary".
Quotations
1987
After the rides, the group gobbled up a lunch of pogo sticks, hot dogs, sandwiches and fries in the food building.
The meal wasn't too expensive, the group decided, with food costing about $3 a person, but they thought drinks were too high. A tasty cup of punch was $1.50, and a lemonade, although refreshing, was $1.75.
1994
Corndogs are a little more complex: a hot dog on a stick, covered with batter. There are numerous corndog stands at the PNE, but only one Pogo corndog stand. The difference, says Pogo man Greg Jarvis, is that Pogo corndogs are made with corn batter, where others are made with doughnut batter.
2008
Like many of his colleagues these days, chef Gord (Cafe Select) Guiltner is having a bit of downscale fun with his upscale menu. Along with oyster shooters and ahi tuna bites, the appetizers include alligator pirogues and, our choice, the irresistible lobster corn dog. At $16 for a standard-sized Pogo on a stick it should be decent and was, a generous portion of succulent lobster meat encased in a light batter, served with a serviceable, not cloying, remoulade sauce.
2012
Pork made an appearance in "pogo" form - as in, shaped round a stick - with Cumbrae's in Dundas using pulled pork (and finishing with peach compote), and Red Canoe in Burlington turning to heritage meat for theirs.
2014
[No, not the children’s toy that lets you jump high and then break your leg. “Pogo” is a brand of corn dog that has become synonymous with corn dogs in Canada. Usually made from a tube of mystery meat around a wooden stick, then dipped in batter and deep-fried, these are a carnival favourite, or a sure sign your parents didn’t care about your health growing up.]
References
- COD-2
- Canadian Trade-marks Database • "POGO, 13"
Images
Image 1: A pogo. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo: Jonathunder
