The recent nationwide obsession with retro comfort food has put the hot dog back in the spotlight. The baseball snack is making a resurgence everywhere from sidewalk stands to gourmet restaurants, and this time of year, as summer weather pulls us out to festivals and weekend road trips, they are especially easy to find.

5280’s “Dog Days of Summer” gives a quick roundup of the best local hot dog haunts, and Serious Eats’ “America’s Regional Hot Dog Styles” is a quick guide to the most unusual dogs throughout the country. This Sunday, two local restaurants pay homage to the frank with eating contests. Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs, off East Colfax Avenue, hosts the grand finale of its multimonth contest, and Woody’s Shot Dogs in Littleton hosts its second annual foot-long hot dog eating competition.