Montreal's famous toasted hot dog wants a Hall of Fame spot too — POM launches petition

As Montreal Canadiens greats Carey Price and Patrice Bergeron prepare to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame, another legend wants in: the Bell Centre's toasted hot dog. Bread brand POM and ad agency Cossette launched a petition on Monday, November 9, calling for the arena hot dog to get a Hall of Fame place of its own. The petition is live now.

A game-night ritual, toasted on a flat-top grill

The hot dog's legend rests on its bun: a POM bun toasted golden and crisp on a flat-top grill, an intermission essential. The campaign says it is as much a part of every Canadiens fan's experience as the opening faceoff, a game-night ritual passed down through generations.

Visiting teams have to try one

Patrick Michaud, vice-president of creation at Cossette, said: "This toasted hot dog is iconic. It has become a must-try for visiting teams, and some sports journalists have even challenged each other to see who can eat the most." He asked the obvious question: if hockey's greatest players deserve a place in the Hall of Fame, why shouldn't the league's most famous toasted hot dog have one too?

A cause that is as serious as it is delicious

Jade Barnabe, brand manager at POM, said: "The toastie is more than a classic: it's a game-night ritual and a point of Montreal pride. We wanted to give fans a cause that's as serious as it is delicious." The petition is live at halloffametoastie.com, where fans can add their names.

The Bell Centre hot dog is already part of fan culture: on game nights the arena rolls out a 12-foot inflatable hot dog for fans to pose with, a viral photo spot. Whether the hot dog can really be inducted is for fans to decide — but tonight, at least, it gets another moment in the spotlight.