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The definitive Chicago hot dog

The definitive Chicago hot dog
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  • Post #211 - June 24th, 2019, 7:30 pm
    Post #211 - June 24th, 2019, 7:30 pm Post #211 - June 24th, 2019, 7:30 pm
    You know there's too many lawyers when whether something is a sandwich or not is being decided in a court case.
    IIRC, BurgerFi uses hamburger buns that are not quite sliced through, leaving a little flap of bread at the rear. They use those half wrappings that seem popular with upscale burger places, that allow you to hold and eat a burger without juices and toppings squeezing out the sides and rear.
    Is the legal standard for what constitutes a sandwich dependent on having 2 individual pieces of bread? What about a hoagie?
  • Post #212 - June 25th, 2019, 12:28 am
    Post #212 - June 25th, 2019, 12:28 am Post #212 - June 25th, 2019, 12:28 am
    Ok, everyone should read these legal treatises about sandwiches and move on to starting another ketchup debate.

    http://mentalfloss.com/article/501011/5 ... ording-law

    https://www.avalara.com/us/en/blog/2014 ... sdays.html

    http://www.minnesotalawreview.org/2019/ ... -sandwich/
  • Post #213 - July 1st, 2019, 12:12 pm
    Post #213 - July 1st, 2019, 12:12 pm Post #213 - July 1st, 2019, 12:12 pm
    Had a look at some of those links, Scott, thanks. I suppose it makes sense to fight in court over what is and isn't a sandwich when the restaurant lease contract says the landlord can't lease to any other places that sell sandwiches.
    So basically Texas says a burrito is a sandwich and Massachusetts says it isn't. Makes sense, Texas has so much Mexican heritage that tacos/burritos are considered the Mexican version of burgers/sandwiches there.

    FWIW, I love ketchup on my hot dogs. Ketchup, mustard, little onion or pickle or relish, on a good quality all-beef dog, with or without natural casing, I'm a happy man.
  • Post #214 - July 1st, 2019, 5:05 pm
    Post #214 - July 1st, 2019, 5:05 pm Post #214 - July 1st, 2019, 5:05 pm
    I came across this photogenic post today:
    https://old.reddit.com/r/food/comments/ ... e_hot_dog/

    I already don't approve but admit I'm curious.
  • Post #215 - July 1st, 2019, 5:09 pm
    Post #215 - July 1st, 2019, 5:09 pm Post #215 - July 1st, 2019, 5:09 pm
    BrendanR wrote:I came across this photogenic post today:
    https://old.reddit.com/r/food/comments/ ... e_hot_dog/

    I already don't approve but admit I'm curious.

    From Fat Rice Bakery, right? They really are delicious.

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #216 - July 3rd, 2019, 4:27 pm
    Post #216 - July 3rd, 2019, 4:27 pm Post #216 - July 3rd, 2019, 4:27 pm
    Tip top natural casing dogs from Wolfy's, two dogs, fries and a drink for $7.59 (2a) hit the spot. I responded "everything" and they did not "cut some corners*" even if my pics don't show the surprisingly ~blah tomatoes which I removed.

    WolfysP59.jpg Natural Casing Vienna Hot Dogs

    Wolfy's, count me a Fan!

    *see 5th post in this thread

    Wolfy's
    2734 W Peterson Ave
    Chicago, IL 60659
    773-743-0207
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #217 - July 9th, 2019, 10:16 am
    Post #217 - July 9th, 2019, 10:16 am Post #217 - July 9th, 2019, 10:16 am
    I haven't been to Wolfy's in years but do pass by it occasionally, one of these days I'm going to have to make sure I'm hungry when I do and stop in.
    Tried Gene and Jude's for the first time ever last week, it was very good. The mustard had a bit of a different taste than standard yellow, not sure if it's their own recipe. But mustard, relish, onions and sport peppers (pretty mild, not much heat) made for nice toppings, and the steamed bun and especially the natural casing vienna dog (full of flavor and seasoning) completed the experience. I even liked the fries too, they weren't crispy, except for the small pieces, but they were fully cooked and well-salted. Overall I'd go here again if I was in the neighborhood.
  • Post #218 - July 9th, 2019, 11:05 am
    Post #218 - July 9th, 2019, 11:05 am Post #218 - July 9th, 2019, 11:05 am
    "In the neighborhood..."

    I have a friend in Lake Forest who will gladly give anyone a drive to O'Hare, because his ritual includes a stop at Gene and Jude's.

    It is all about Gene and Jude's for him.

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #219 - July 9th, 2019, 12:35 pm
    Post #219 - July 9th, 2019, 12:35 pm Post #219 - July 9th, 2019, 12:35 pm
    Cathy2 wrote:"In the neighborhood..."

    I have a friend in Lake Forest who will gladly give anyone a drive to O'Hare, because his ritual includes a stop at Gene and Jude's.

    It is all about Gene and Jude's for him.

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Talk about good karma. I love that idea. Except for the Gene and Jude's part as I am not really a fan. But I've taken friends to Paradise Pup on the way to O'Hare which was a win-win for everyone. Maybe next time I fly I'll contact your friend. And he'll like the timing since I try not to fly in the morning.
  • Post #220 - July 9th, 2019, 1:19 pm
    Post #220 - July 9th, 2019, 1:19 pm Post #220 - July 9th, 2019, 1:19 pm
    Uther wrote:Tried Gene and Jude's for the first time ever last week, it was very good.... Overall I'd go here again if I was in the neighborhood.


    It's a good stop after visiting Hala Kahiki, the tiki bar a block or so away. Tiki drinks with a hot dog chaser is always a winning combination..
  • Post #221 - October 8th, 2019, 8:50 pm
    Post #221 - October 8th, 2019, 8:50 pm Post #221 - October 8th, 2019, 8:50 pm
    Another place we visited on our hotdog crawl last week (remember The Salad Dog and Dogzilla? :) ).

    8607E8F3-12D3-406C-8C8E-7B99C6B70EC1.jpeg The Definitive Depression Style Hotdog
    Mustard, chopped onion, green relish, sport peppers

    Jimmy's Red Hots
    4000 W Grand Ave, Chicago

    From the ridiculous to the sublime. A Depression Dog at its finest. :)

    My Bride and I decided to have a picnic, pulled out chairs from the trunk and ate next to the sidewalk.

    They have an extremely limited menu so I thought I would take a walk on the wild side and order The Combo! A Vienna Polish and a Hotdog on one bun!

    6F2FDDE4-D379-46E1-B525-8A558DF8BCF2.jpeg

    While we were eating the daughter of the owner came out to sweep and I couldn’t resist to ask her about the new menu item, Cheese Sauce by the Cup? She laughed and mentioned it was time to come into the 20th century. The first new menu item in 45 years.

    She also came back out with a bottle of water for our pooch.

    Great as always. Fries were spot on, sweet soft interior with a touch of a crunch on the out. Might ask for them well done next time.
    Last edited by Panther in the Den on October 10th, 2019, 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
    "Very good... but not my favorite." ~ Johnny Depp as Roux the Gypsy in Chocolat
  • Post #222 - October 10th, 2019, 3:48 pm
    Post #222 - October 10th, 2019, 3:48 pm Post #222 - October 10th, 2019, 3:48 pm
    Santander wrote:I know of two *Lucky* Dog stands in Berwyn, which are my favorite in the area. The better of the two is on about Lyman and Roosevelt (just west of Austin), but I can't find an address. The other is on Harlem and 16th Street.

    Lucky Dog kicks the casing off of Tasty Dog. I loathe the Lake Street Tasty Dog in Oak Park. Loathe.

    Finishing our aborted trifecta from last week.

    47093F31-39B3-42C0-88F9-E08CD9D571CB.jpeg A Traditional Chicago Style Hotdog
    Mustard, chopped onion, green relish (often neon), sport peppers, pickle spear, tomato slice, celery salt

    Lucky Dog
    6043 Roosevelt Rd, Cicero
    (a Vienna Hall of Fame recipient)

    Just fine! Was sure to ask about the celery salt that I didn’t detect it on our last visit. I think the put a little extra on this time which was fine with me. :)

    Bun could’ve been a little fresher and the pickles were great!

    Crinkle cut frozen fries had a nice crunch but the few extra crispy ones were great. Nacho cheese sauce.

    Tamale in plastic just a touch soft but fine.

    Just perfect for a between meal snack. :)
    "Very good... but not my favorite." ~ Johnny Depp as Roux the Gypsy in Chocolat
  • Post #223 - October 10th, 2019, 4:02 pm
    Post #223 - October 10th, 2019, 4:02 pm Post #223 - October 10th, 2019, 4:02 pm
    spinynorman99 wrote:It's a good stop after visiting Hala Kahiki, the tiki bar a block or so away. Tiki drinks with a hot dog chaser is always a winning combination..

    You might know...

    Carnivore Oak Park
    1042 Pleasant St, Oak Park

    ... has been having a weekend (Friday or Saturday) popups providing Hawaiian Musubi (Spam Sushi) using their housemade Spam? :)
    "Very good... but not my favorite." ~ Johnny Depp as Roux the Gypsy in Chocolat
  • Post #224 - September 22nd, 2020, 7:04 am
    Post #224 - September 22nd, 2020, 7:04 am Post #224 - September 22nd, 2020, 7:04 am
    Dirty Harry, no ketchup on a hot dog scene.

    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #225 - April 3rd, 2021, 5:42 pm
    Post #225 - April 3rd, 2021, 5:42 pm Post #225 - April 3rd, 2021, 5:42 pm
    David Berg, who founded his company in Chicago in 1860, had a definite view as to what should go on a hot dog.

    Here’s the story. My late friend Harry L. Stern was a descendant of David Berg. Harry was a noted rare book dealer and appraiser who passed away in November of 2020. Chicago’s Caxton Club, an organization devoted to rare books, recently published an appreciation of Harry in its journal. Among the tales from Harry’s many friends was this one which I had not heard before.

    “...David Berg was the founder of a sausage company that received the very first [USDA] Inspection Approval...By the mid-1880s baseball had developed in the Midwest. One field was established close to Berg’s location by his friend Charles Comisky, a neighbor. Berg’s frankfurters were sold at both Cubs and Sox games. It was said that the Sox used mustard as the hot dog condiment while the Cubs used all kinds of things on theirs. Stern blamed the abysmal record of the Cubs on this heretical practice. Harry’s father, then a six-year-old, asked his great-great grandfather what to put on his frankfurter, and the crusty German from Frankfurt am Main said ‘Nur Senf!’ (Only mustard!)”

    Harry’s dad would have been six years old around 1910, so this was well before the “dragged through a garden” era.

    The David Berg Company is now owned by Vienna. More information about the company’s history is here: http://www.davidberg.com/profile.html

    and here: https://www.viennabeef.com/chicagos-hot-dog/history-of-the-chicago-hot-dog/
    Where there’s smoke, there may be salmon.
  • Post #226 - April 3rd, 2021, 6:58 pm
    Post #226 - April 3rd, 2021, 6:58 pm Post #226 - April 3rd, 2021, 6:58 pm
    HI,

    I met Harry once when he came along for a tour of Vienna Sausage with his brother Jeff.

    On that occasion, Jeff and his brother were given a ten-pound box of David Berg hot dogs.

    Nice people and an interesting family history to say the least.

    Regards,
    Cathy2
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #227 - April 4th, 2021, 6:21 am
    Post #227 - April 4th, 2021, 6:21 am Post #227 - April 4th, 2021, 6:21 am
    What are the differences between the Vienna Beef, David Berg and Red Hot Chicago frankfurters, given that they are all manufactured by the same company?
  • Post #228 - April 6th, 2021, 8:38 am
    Post #228 - April 6th, 2021, 8:38 am Post #228 - April 6th, 2021, 8:38 am
    ld111134 wrote:What are the differences between the Vienna Beef, David Berg and Red Hot Chicago frankfurters, given that they are all manufactured by the same company?


    I cannot think of the last time I had a David Berg, so I'm having a hard time recalling its flavor profile. As to Red Hot Chicago compared to Vienna, to me, Vienna is "cleaner", tasting of meat with only a background of spice. I do not like Red Hot Chicago, to me, it has a lot of extra smoke and seasoning, but more like, crap seasoning. It just tastes very artificial to me.
    Think Yiddish, Dress British - Advice of Evil Ronnie to me.
  • Post #229 - June 18th, 2021, 4:43 pm
    Post #229 - June 18th, 2021, 4:43 pm Post #229 - June 18th, 2021, 4:43 pm
    Love me a Home Depot hot dog, even though they are not natural casing they are my 'which movie star would your wife give you a bye' dog. (Geena Davis circa 1988, Earth Girls Are Easy)

    Seeing all the hoopla by Nick Kindelsperger in the Chicago Tribune for Fixin’ Franks Maxwell Street Polish with J.P. Graziano giardiniera I stopped at Lincoln/McCormick Home Depot.

    Skunked, no Maxwell Street Polish ready at that moment, there were some grilling away on a small covered flattop but 20-minutes from done.

    The all beef polish was fine, though no snap, no grilled onions. And the J.P. Graziano giardiniera is terrific, but I feel like I wasted a whole bunch of calories and salt intake. The bride liked the regular dog.

    I'll try again, I like Home Depot dogs, love J.P. Graziano and their giardiniera. Lets hope my timing is better next time.

    J.P. Graziano giardiniera, count me a Fan!

    click to enlarge
    Image
    Image
    Image
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #230 - June 21st, 2021, 6:57 am
    Post #230 - June 21st, 2021, 6:57 am Post #230 - June 21st, 2021, 6:57 am
    Looks like a hassle to do, but man it looks tasty. This recipe makes the hot dog bun, a Knish! Wow.

    https://thetakeout.com/recipe-knish-hot-dogs-new-york-city-street-food-1847105431
  • Post #231 - June 22nd, 2021, 1:48 pm
    Post #231 - June 22nd, 2021, 1:48 pm Post #231 - June 22nd, 2021, 1:48 pm
    ld111134 wrote: What are the differences between the Vienna Beef, David Berg and Red Hot Chicago frankfurters, given that they are all manufactured by the same company?
    This may be a moment when I learn something. I know that Kosher Zion was a subsidiary of David Berg, and then Vienna Beef bought David Berg, but Red Hot Chicago descended from S. Ladany & Sons - did Vienna Beef obtain it also? If so, when? :?
    Valuable links for survival, without the monetization attempt: https://pqrs-ltd.xyz/bookmark4.html
  • Post #232 - June 22nd, 2021, 6:34 pm
    Post #232 - June 22nd, 2021, 6:34 pm Post #232 - June 22nd, 2021, 6:34 pm
    pudgym29 wrote:
    ld111134 wrote: What are the differences between the Vienna Beef, David Berg and Red Hot Chicago frankfurters, given that they are all manufactured by the same company?
    This may be a moment when I learn something. I know that Kosher Zion was a subsidiary of David Berg, and then Vienna Beef bought David Berg, but Red Hot Chicago descended from S. Ladany & Sons - did Vienna Beef obtain it also? If so, when? :?

    Vienna Beef bought Red Hot Chicago in 2012, but there's a fun backstory detailed in a judicial opinion from a 2011 lawsuit filed by Vienna Beef against Red Hot Chicago:
    Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman wrote:Vienna Beef was founded as the Vienna Sausage Manufacturing Company after Austro–Hungarian immigrants Emil Reichel and Samuel Ladany sold sausages made from their family recipe at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Vienna Beef claims to have used the same sausage recipes for the last 118 years. Vienna Beef asserts that its recipes are trade secrets that it has taken great effort to divulge to the fewest number of people possible. Defendant Scott Ladany is the grandson of Vienna Beef founder Samuel Ladany. Scott Ladany began working for the company in 1971 and obtained a 10% stock interest. The Ladany family sold the company in the early 1980s to plaintiff Vienna Beef. In 1983, Ladany left Vienna Beef and sold all of his stock. When Ladany left Vienna Beef, he signed a non-compete agreement that also contained a confidentiality clause with regards to Vienna Beef's trade secret recipes. In 1986, at the end of the non-compete term Ladany started Red Hot Chicago to make hotdogs and other sausages. Scott Ladany's son, Bill, joined RHC in 2003.

    The lawsuit was based on Red Hot Chicago's claim it was using a 100+ year old family recipe which was either a lie or a violation of the confidentiality clause. The case ultimately became moot when Vienna bought Red Hot Chicago and hired Scott Ladany to run that division. More from him here.
  • Post #233 - June 23rd, 2021, 12:53 pm
    Post #233 - June 23rd, 2021, 12:53 pm Post #233 - June 23rd, 2021, 12:53 pm
    Wow, cool photo! Scott Ladany — the sausage king of Chicago?
  • Post #234 - June 24th, 2021, 11:31 pm
    Post #234 - June 24th, 2021, 11:31 pm Post #234 - June 24th, 2021, 11:31 pm
    I am not going to get into a great debate. However, if you do happen to stop at a Quiktrip, they offer all of the ingredients that you need to make a Chicago style hot dog other than the Vienna Beef hot dog (they use Hillshire products) and the seeded roll. A 4 oz sausage for $1.69 or 2 for $2.69 is NOT a bad deal for lunch.
  • Post #235 - August 14th, 2021, 2:33 pm
    Post #235 - August 14th, 2021, 2:33 pm Post #235 - August 14th, 2021, 2:33 pm
    Even Godzilla shouldn't put ketchup on a hot dog!

    The August 16, 2021 issue of The New Yorker has a cartoon (page 24 in the print edition) of two Godzilla-like creatures standing amid a burning Chicago. One is pouring ketchup on a hot dog while the other chastises him saying "You can't do that, Scott--this is Chicago."

    https://www.newyorker.com/magazine

    Not sure how well the above link will work. It was the first of 13 cartoons on the page, but the image wouldn't come up on my computer.
    Where there’s smoke, there may be salmon.
  • Post #236 - August 16th, 2021, 10:02 am
    Post #236 - August 16th, 2021, 10:02 am Post #236 - August 16th, 2021, 10:02 am
    https://mobile.twitter.com/asherperlman ... 17/photo/1
  • Post #237 - August 16th, 2021, 2:07 pm
    Post #237 - August 16th, 2021, 2:07 pm Post #237 - August 16th, 2021, 2:07 pm
    The August 16, 2021 issue of The New Yorker has a cartoon (page 24 in the print edition) of two Godzilla-like creatures standing amid a burning Chicago. One is pouring ketchup on a hot dog


    I believe cartoon depicts ketchup being applied to a supine Fay Wray-like character.
  • Post #238 - August 17th, 2021, 6:58 am
    Post #238 - August 17th, 2021, 6:58 am Post #238 - August 17th, 2021, 6:58 am
    jlawrence01 wrote: A 4 oz sausage for $1.69 or 2 for $2.69 is NOT a bad deal for lunch.

    True, especially after recently paying nearly $10 for a 2-dog special recently at 2 different places: Plush Pup on Cumberland in Elmwood Park, and Luke's of Lake Bluff on Waukegan Rd. Very good but kinda spendy.
  • Post #239 - August 17th, 2021, 6:10 pm
    Post #239 - August 17th, 2021, 6:10 pm Post #239 - August 17th, 2021, 6:10 pm
    George R wrote:Even Godzilla shouldn't put ketchup on a hot dog!


    New Yorker
    click to enlarge
    Image
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #240 - August 19th, 2021, 10:52 am
    Post #240 - August 19th, 2021, 10:52 am Post #240 - August 19th, 2021, 10:52 am
    Between today, August 19th, and October 17th, Vienna Beef has organized a hot dog stand challenge contest to see who can visit the most participating hot dog stand locations. The grand prize for the "Top Dog" includes 4 tickets to a VIP experience per month for a year (Bears/Sox box tickets mentioned), a Top Dog t-shirt, $1,000 viennabeef.com giftcard and a trophy.

    More information available here:
    https://hotdogstandchallenge.com/

    The participating restaurants are predominantly in the Chicago metro area, with some further downstate, in Indiana and in Wisconsin.

    Game on!

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