There are two requirements to being considered a true-blue Kaiserman.

1. Must love dogs -- hot dogs that is
2. Must never use ketchup on a hot dog -- only spicy brown mustard

It's also common Kaiserman knowledge that the best hot dog can only be found at the Original Hot Dog Shop in Pittsburgh. All others are sub-par to the signature crunchy dog on a fresh bun with the perfect spicy brown mustard. This is the reason my out-of-town relatives flock to the "O" as soon as they land in Pittsburgh, no matter what time of day.

But that doesn't mean other dogs aren't worth trying.

Dee's Sandwiches, Soup and Salad, 234 E. College Ave., boasts the "tastiest dogs in Happy Valley." I tried the "Texas Dog," with chili, mustard and onions, which I was told was one of the most popular items.

As I sat at the counter waiting for my order, a sense of dread ran through me - I forgot to specify spicy mustard. If it isn't spicy mustard, I'd rather have nothing. My heart pounded as I awaited the verdict; would my hot dog experience be ruined, or would Dee's be a glorious deli-like restaurant where spicy mustard is the standard?

One bite in, the answer was clear. Dee's had saved the day! The hot dog had that great all-beef taste, with just the right amount of spicy mustard, red onions and a hearty amount of chili - all on a delicious, slightly toasted bun. The minor toasting made the bun a better barrier for the ingredients; it didn't get soggy and fall apart. The toasty crunch, along with the all-beef flavor, reminded me of a bagel dog or the cocktail franks in puff pastry served at weddings and parties. Let's just say the Kaisermans are the life of any party - as long as there are massive amounts of cocktail franks and spicy mustard on hand. We consider any event with massive amounts of meat a party.

The other most popular hot dog at Dee's is the "Nor-easter Dog," which has baked beans, bacon and ketchup. Clearly, with ketchup as a topping the Kaiserman family by-laws prevented me from making that choice. Plus I think bacon overpowers the taste of the hot dog.

The shop sees a lot of regular customers for hot dogs, employee Elise Long (junior-psychology) said. Topping options include ketchup, brown mustard, relish, pickles, baked beans, sauerkraut, onions, chili, cheese, jalapenos, bacon and yellow mustard. But Long's favorite dog was the 'dog of the month' that had guacamole, tomatoes and cheese.

"I never thought of putting half this stuff on hot dogs until I came here," she said.

Dee's also has sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads and mouth-watering huge cookies. Luckily, there are no Kaiserman rules about baked goods.

-Beth