Jay Silverman and Joel Bennett Search for West Virginia’s Best Hot Dog

I talk with Jay Silverman and Joel Bennett about their dogumentary on the search for the best West Virginia hot dog. What starts as a COVID-era idea to support mom-and-pop restaurants turns into a years-long project across the state. They visit 284 places, judge every part of a West Virginia-style hot dog, and meet people and stories they never could have planned. We talk about the Saint Albans premiere, the mustard-colored carpet, Bogeys serving hot dogs at the event, and how the project grows beyond food. Jay and Joel explain that the film is really about West Virginians supporting each other, celebrating small businesses, and showing the state in a way people do not always get to see. The lesson is simple: stay focused, stay consistent, and follow the story where it takes you.