DEMOLITION BEGINS AT NATHAN'S FAMOUS ON CONEY ISLAND...BUT DO NOT FEAR! THEY'LL BE BACK!

Demolition Begins at Nathan's Famous on Coney Island

Rao

There are few better places to enjoy a hot dog than at Nathan's Famouson Coney Island, where even as snow lands on the beach and your fingers ache with cold, a grilled dog with crinkle-cut fries can make you love New York a little harder. But the chain's flagship, open for nearly a century, has been dark and shuttered since Hurricane Sandy crushed the neighborhood.
Earlier this year, Nathan's announced its plans to reopen in the same spot this spring and five days ago, demolition inside the restaurant began. The structure was severely damaged by water, and a demo team moved back and forth with garbage cans full of debris. One worker said about a month of cleanup was likely ahead before the rebuild could start.
Here's a heartbreaking look inside Nathan's right now:

Nathan's was founded in by Nathan Handwerker, a Jewish immigrant from Poland who sold all-beef hot dogs at his Coney Island stand for a nickel a piece (when the going rate was a dime). His son, Murray Handwerker, helped grow the business into a large chain, but sold his stake in 1987.
It may not be a little family-run counter anymore, but Nathan's is still an essential part of Coney Island culture, and the sign that hangs outside today is a relief: "After 100 years, no hurricane will get us down. We are rebuilding."
Read the most recent posts on our food blog or check our longer weekly reviews. Contact the writer at trao@villagevoice.com, @tejalrao.

TV for food junkies (and bad boys) and may I ask a favor?

Number one, the favor. If you're going to leave me a comment, please leave your email or your url so I can respond.

Number two: I was looking for a recipe today for chicken croquettes, and got to thinking about my favorite guys on the Travel Channel. They are Anthony Bourdain of No Reservations, http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods. http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Bizarre_Foods.

They'll take you around the world to holes in walls, tents, back rooms, food courts, city streets, to a fire in the desert, and between them you get sharp, intelligent, witty dialog with great food. Andrew isn't really a "bad boy" (Bourdain is), but he eats really disgusting food - things I'd never consider (he likes worms, which apparently, not a lot of cultures prepare well), and stinky tofu
which he couldn't even gag down.

Bourdain's ascerbic, a great writer (I love his blog), irreverent. Both bring the culture to you; you get the urge to pack a bag every Tuesday (here), reach for the phone and buy a ticket.

Watch then once (Bourdain follows Zimmern) and you'll be hooked.

Who's first in line for the stinky tofu?