Archive Great Ideas By People Staff Published on June 22, 2009 12:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email FOOD Danny Meyer’s … HOT DOGS FOR FOUR This N.Y.C. restaurateur offers three tasty takes on a summertime staple UNDER $10 THE CLASSICHe owns Shake Shack at the Mets’ Citi Field (above), but as a kid at St. Louis Cardinals games, he’d “put one inch each of ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, barbecue sauce and pickles all on the same 6-inch dog.” THE OFFBEATDrizzling maple syrup or salad dressing on a dog works “because you have cold and hot, crunchy and soft, sweet and salt.” THE SPICYMeyer says to pull from the fridge “that stuff you haven’t used in months”—like capers, olives, and salsa—to add pizazz. “Hot dog is a delicious vehicle for any other flavor,” he explains. GRILLING TIP“When grilling, give your hot dog those three gentle scores—parallel diagonal slices no deeper than 1/8 of an inch—so while it’s cooking, it opens up instead of popping. For some reason, it just ends up producing a better dog,” says Meyer, adding, “They’re the most foolproof food in the world, but if the hot dog is no good, then it’s just a waste of condiments.” Meyer says Hebrew National makes “great” dogs—and the brand’s 97 percent Fat Free Kosher Beef Franks have only 45 calories each! STAR TALK We Asked … What’s Your Perfect Hot Dog? GIADA DE LAURENTIIS“I like it grilled; sometimes I broil them. And I like it plain, none of the stuff on top.” MARIO LOPEZ“I love spicy food, so for hot dogs, it’s jalapeños and salsa.” RACHAEL RAY“I love a Chicago dog—the cucumbers, the pickles, the hot peppers, everything!” ROB THOMAS“Mustard and ketchup. I like the New York City dogs on every corner.” TRAVEL CELEB GUIDE TO …VEGAS! Three stars with ties to Sin City reveal their favorite local haunts Bradley Cooper of the Vegas-set movie The Hangover QUA BATHS & SPA AT CAESARS PALACE“I’ve stayed at Caesars Palace, and I’ve got to say, the spa there is pretty nice!” (caesarspalace.com). RIVIERA HOTEL“I like to gamble there, because that’s where they shot Casino, and it’s old school.” (rivierahotel.com) Mel B of Vegas revue Peepshow LAS VEGAS SPRINGS PRESERVE“There are free walking trails and gardens. I love how peaceful this place is.” (springspreserve.org) EXCALIBUR“The carnival games here are great. The competition can get going, but it’s friendly.” (excalibur.com) Donny Osmond co-headliner of Donny & Marie at the Flamingo hotel “The Neon Boneyard (neonmuseum.org), where the old Las Vegas signs have been retired, takes me back to my first show in Las Vegas at 7.” People DEAL From June 10 to Sept. 30, PEOPLE readers are eligible for special room rates on luxury suites at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino and other perks. For info, go to venetian.com/people and palazzolasvegas.com/people. HOME Drew Lachey: HOW TO HANG ART The singer shares what he has learned as a new HGTV host “For a long time, I didn’t hang up my plaques because I felt like I was saying, ‘Hey, here are my awards! Come look at my ego room,'” says the former 98° singer and 2006 Dancing with the Stars champ. Now host of HGTV’s $250,000 Challenge, Lachey says, “I found that by mixing them with family photos, posters and kids’ artwork, you can have a really interesting, aesthetically pleasing space. A smorgasbord of frames in different materials and colors softens up the look and makes it intriguing. Instead of, ‘Hey, this is my planned-out picture wall,’ it looks like, ‘This is just my collection of things that are important to me.'” Catch the final two episodes of HGTV’s $250,000 Challenge Sundays at 10 p.m. People DEAL GET BRUCE’S RUG! Limit one coupon per customer. Discount valid only on bath products (including textiles and bath furniture). Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. West Elm must retain coupon. No substitutions allowed. Void if copied or transferred and where prohibited or restricted by law. Offer may be used on sale items but may not be combined with any other discounts or offers. Offer not valid for Internet or catalog purchases, non-bath products, gift certificates, gift cards, previous purchases, back-ordered items, taxes or shipping and processing charges. Offer can not be sold or otherwise bartered. Offer valid from 6/12/09 – 6/26/09. Newlyweds Bruce Willis and Emma Heming recently bought West Elm’s jute bouclé rug ($129). Now it—and all other West Elm bath products—are 10% off for PEOPLE readers! Just bring this coupon to any West Elm store from June 12-26. EVE’S OBSESSION The rapper—who has three dogs—says “the only thing that takes the smell out of my house” is the multipurpose detergent Fabuloso ($3.50; dollardealshopping.com), which she likes in the baby powder scent. “I could get cases of it—I’m obsessed! I’m constantly mopping the floor, but it’s the only thing that works. It’s amazing.”