Red Hot Ranch 7.23.10

Red Hot Ranch
2072 N Western


I couldn't tell you why I liked this hot dog so much. It was the minimalist/old school style, which means I got my dog with just relish (not of the neon green variety, which is the kind I prefer) and onions. The fries were fresh cut and wrapped up on/in the dog, which helped them meld into the dog, which added some flavor to my otherwise quite naked dog. The bun held up well. It did not have poppy seeds but seemed to have been steamed. The dog itself was a Vienna Beef and so of course had the snap and consistency that I know and love. The fries were, as previously stated, fresh cut. I actually watched one of the employees cut up a potato and put it in the oil and then present us the finished product. The fries were therefore very hot and very fresh and that made me a happy panda.

So again, I can't really tell you why it tasted so good. Maybe it was the company. Maybe it was the unexpectedness of the getting to go for a hot dog today. Maybe it was the sweet satisfaction of finally checking out this establishment, which I have been meaning to do for almost a year. In any case, I give the Red Hot Ranch 3.5 out of 5 celery salt shakers and an "I will defintely eat there again and again" because of its proximity to my place of employment.

Aidan

I must admit that I had low expectations before going to the Red Hot Ranch. I am not sure why, but it just seemed to be a place that was just there with nothing special about it. Yet upon getting in, it felt good. A limited menu of hot dogs, polishs, french fries and fried shrimp was the first good sign. The second was a nice assortment of picnic tables outside and a stand only counter on the inside.

I order a hot dog and fries with my usual orange soda. There was a little delay as the fries were put in the oil for a second cooking, which made sure they were done and mighty crispy. The menu also informed me that I would get mustard, onions, relish and sport peppers on the hot dog in fine Old Chicago Style. I appreciated the straightforwardness of it.

The hot dog has Vienna Beef natural casing dog, with that snap and compactness that I find reassuring. The fries as previously stated were well done and placed on top of the hot dog. One apparently could also request them on the side with no ill comments from the workers. The condiments were well proportioned and fresh. The bun, sans poppy seeds, held up very well for its hefty load of hot dog, condiments and fries.

I liked Red Hot Ranch, but it was no blow away. I would interested to do a comparison between it and another Old Chicago Style hot dog stand called Sam's Red Hots a few blocks away which I remember enjoying. With that said, I would give Red Hot Ranch 3.5 celery shakers out of 5.

Dan

Drew's Eatery 7.16.10

Drew's Eatery

2207 W Montrose Ave

When hot dogs were born, the view on the food production was making a shift along with the rest of industry toward mass production. Things were being made faster, in greater quality and hopefully available more people. Added into all of this was the science of making food last longer and taste better even if the ingredients were below standard or not natural. Hot dogs fit well into this, being precooked, usually made of odd end meats and filled with nitrates to be preserved.

Mordern times have begun to re-examine these ways and found that making much, much more of something does not necessarily mean it is better. There are also health concerns and animal care concerns that should be brought into consideration. With this wave, Drew' s Eatry has come into existance selling nitrate free, grass-feed beef hot dogs.

The ordering process of Drew's is a bit confusing as there are two ordering sections, one for ice cream and the other for food, which is hidden a bit around the corner. I ordered a Drew Dog, with the Welles Park fixings of tomato, cucumber, pickle and celery salt on a wheat bun. Apparently there were other condiments that one could add on a bar behind the ordering counter with ketchup (not sure why as no fries were on the menu), mustard (6 different types), relish and onions, but we were not informed about it and did not notice it until after our meal. The hot dogs were warmed on a roller machine like 7-11 that was on an incline and moved up and down said incline.

The hot dog itself was good. The bun, while chewier and larger than a Rosen's, held up well and blended in as piece of the meal. It was a little harder to handle due to a larger size and caused one to have an ungraceful first bite. The condiments were very good and fresh, but it were incomplete due to not knowing about the other options.

The stickler for me though was the hot dog. One could tell that it was slightly healther, but the meat was too high quality. It had a softness once one broke through the casing that I found displeasing. I like a hearty hot dog that one has to chew and break up in the mouth. This hot dog reminded me of the Salmon Dog at fRed Hots. There was an airiness to it, which is not a hot dog characteristic in my book. It is like king in pauper's clothing, fancy shoes on a constrution site, champagne flutes at an old man bar. I am an understanding man and I try to embrace difference and change, but I guess I am slower to accept change in this realm. The Hot Dog is Great Depression food, not fine dining.

I could continue, but I think you get the point. In short, while I was not a fan of the hot dog, overall it was better then most run of the mill grease joint dogs. Drew's did put some thought and love into these dogs. If you are looking for a veggie dog or natural dog, I would recommend them. Yet for a classic dog, I guess I stuck in the old ways. In conclusion, I would give Drew's Eatry 2 out of 5 celery salt shakers.

Dan

I had mixed feelings about Drew's from the beginning. Part of me was excited to eat there, because I generally feel some guilt every time I eat a hot dog. I know that the meat is factory farmed and I know that this is bad not only for the animals that become my hot dog, but also for the environment and the people who are involved with every step of the production of that hot dog up to and including the employees at whichever restaurant I am frequenting. I know that the bun and the condiments and the fries and the soda and everything is being produced cheaply and yet at great cost to the world I would like to see. I know this, but I love hot dogs and so I justify that and eat them anyway.

I think that I knew Drew's would easy my conscious in some ways. The meat is grass fed and so I know that those cows lived better lives than most cows get and were able to be in touch with their "cowness," which is probably the best that it gets for cows that are eventually going to become food. Arguably I should have gone for the tofu dog, but even I have my limits. I believe I would rather give up hot dogs than eat tofu dogs, and maybe some day I will do that. In any case, I felt like a more conscious consumer by going to Drew's and I was prepared to pay for that privilege.

I will say that the employees' uniforms made me a little nervous. The male identified worker's said "eco dude" and the female identified worker's said "eco chick." Perhaps there were options that said "eco tranny" or "eco queer" and maybe they got to self identify every day but the binary those shirts set up made me slightly less happy to be there. Other than that, though, I enjoyed the ambiance of the place. There were no garbage cans, just a place for recyclable and one for biodegradables. I took that to mean that everything that was used there was one or the other and that's pretty cool. There was a kids corner complete with a small weinermobile and it made my heart happy to see the young ones being schooled in the ways of the hot dog. Both employees were nice enough and checked in to see how we were doing and all of that. It was a much calmer and more caring environment than your average grease joint.

On to the dog: first up, let me say that the bun choice was a bit difficult. The options were wheat or pretzel bun and both were large and in charge, creating potential for several bites that were nothing but bun. There were no poppy seeds in sight. The dog itself was grass fed and nitrate free. It was surprisingly good but did not have the snap that I love from a Vienna Beef dog. The consistency was also different. It was less chewy than your average hot dog. The toppings/condiments were delicious. It is the season for fresh produce and the dog came with cucumber, pickle, tomato, and celery salt. I am interested to see how this is handled during the season when produce cannot be grown locally in Chicago but for the summer months this is a definite plus. The toppings were by far the most fresh I have ever had on a hot dog. I later realized that there was a condiment bar where I could have added onions and relish, but I did not see this until I had finished my dog and it was not pointed out to me. This is a little disappointing, as was the fact that there was ketchup on the condiment bar despite an absence of fries or burgers on the menu. I'm going to assume that was there for the kids and leave it like that.

All in all my eating experience was better than I expected it to me. Sometimes natural food tastes natural and my taste buds are not used to such things. This hot dog wasn't such a shock to my system, although it certainly tasted different than most dogs I've had. I would go back to Drew's, especially if I wanted to feel more environmentally conscious. Maybe some day that will become my standard and these will be the only dogs I ever eat. For the moment, though, I eat hot dogs anywhere and everywhere. If I'm judging Drew's according to taste alone and leaving out the fact that the way those hot dogs are produced is more closely aligned with my values, I have to give Drew's a 3 out of 5 celery salt shaker rating.

Gene and Jude's/Jimmys 7.5.10

Gene and Jude's (on the bottom)/ Jimmy's (on the top)

2720 W River Road/ 4000 W Grand Ave

River Grove, IL /Chicago, IL

It has been a year since we first stopped at Gene and Jude’s and Jimmy’s and since that I time I thought nostalgically about these stands. Both feature the old Chicago style dog consisting of bun, hot dog, mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers and fries wrapped in the same wax paper. I remember eating hot dogs topped with French fries as a small child that were made my neighbors, so the taste is hard wired into my brain. There is just something about adding some fried starch with salt onto a great dog. With two venerable champions of the old Chicago style hot dog claiming different sections of the direction-shifting Grand Avenue, it makes perfect sense that one would do a comparison while celebrating a founding of a nation.

The first up was Gene and Jude’s. As we drove up to the stand, expectations were high. There was already a line up to the door and one felt the anticipation in the crowd. While the crowd moved along, we decided. I went for a hot dog with everything and small Cherry Coke that was prepared by a one of the younger pups in the hot dog preparation team of Gene and Jude’s. It all came very quickly and I watched the spuds go from whole to sliced to fried as Aidan got his.

Upon finding a spot, we opened up to a neat combo of fries and hot dog. There were quite a bit of fries, so I pulled some off. The fries were sticking together, which gave me the sense that they were not fully done. The hot dog was great. I was sad that I could only eat one. It had a good snap of a Vienna Beef sausage, the bun held up its load and everything just melded into one. I am usually not a fan of sport peppers on my hot dog, but it just seems to go so well on the old Chicago style that I include it every time. I also like the fries being already smashed on your dog, giving one a smooth level surface to handle the dog in transit to the mouth, while containing all of other condiment goodness.

After Gene and Jude’s, it was off to Jimmy’s. There was no line, so we stepped right up and got the ordering done. My hot dog and fries and Dr. Pepper (Cherry Coke not available) came just as quick and was prepared in front of me, but the division of labor (who to pay) was a bit confusing. There seemed to one guy who handled the money, who came out of nowhere to ask for it, even though I was told the price by three other people. Anyway, the fries were much more well done at Jimmy’s and thus no sticking. While wrapped with the hot dog, they were not smashed down on the hot dog, so one was forced to put them on personally. The hot dog was also Vienna Beef and excellent, the bun held up as hoped and the sport peppers seemed to well marinated for a slight sweetness. Once again, the self placed fries created a nice plain for hot dog holding and containing.

In short, both of these hot dogs were great. They are just solid experiences, but very different in terms of ambience. Gene and Jude’s is your suburban middle America home town, while Jimmy’s is urban, rugged with a Do the Right Thing feel to it. In looking at these two hot dogs in comparison, while I enjoy my fries pre-mashed into the dog, I would say that I like Jimmy’s slightly better due to crisper fries (even though I had to place them on myself), sweeter sport peppers and a little more of earthy feel to it. In conclusion, I would give Gene and Jude’s 4 out of 5 Celery Salt Shakers and Jimmy’s 4.5 out of 5 Celery Salt Shakers.

Dan

Full disclosure: I enjoy the new school (with tomatoes, pickle slice, and neon green relish) more than the old school (with mustard, onions, relish, and sport peppers) Chicago style hot dog. Since neither Gene and Jude's nor Jimmy's serves such a dog, you would think that I would not be a fan. Somehow, though, they manage to get me. Perhaps it is because they are both so rabidly anti ketchup. In any case, on to the dogs:

I had not been to Gene and Jude's in over a year and I connect the sweet taste of Gene and Jude's with the satisfaction of a sweet escape from Madden MHC. Perhaps that is part of why I love it so. I was experiencing some difficulty whilst in line (which was practially to the door by the time we arrived) about what to order. I didn't want to overdo it since I still needed to eat at Jimmy's, but I was fairly sure that one hot dog wouldn't be satisfying enough for a man of my stature. In time I decided to go for the double dog (2 dogs, 1 bun) and I would say it was the right choice. I appreciate the hand cut fries as well as the way they are wrapped up and stuck to the dog. I think that the limited condiments I place on my dog (just relish and onions, thank you) helped the double dog work without destroying my bun or creating an avalanche. Since I do have limited condiments, I also like how the salt from the fries works with the dog to create a taste sensation. I was certainly pleased with my meal at Gene and Jude's.

Jimmy's was much less crowded, which created some room for banter with the folks behind the counter. I appreciated this, as anyone who works around hot dogs that much is surely a friend of mine. The fries did not stick to this hot dog as well, leading me to have to hand place them. On one hand, this was nice because I could pick the cream of the fry crop, so to speak. On the other, I like the way the flavors meld when the fries are stuck moreso than when I add them myself. Jimmy's was certainly also nothing to complain about. I like that they set the prices so that they are nice even numbers with tax ($2.50 for a hot dog and fries). I've eaten at Jimmy's 3 or so times in the last month so for some reason I found Gene and Jude's more satisfying this time. I certainly wouldn't kick a hot dog from Gene and Jude's or Jimmy's out of bed, though. All in all I'd give both 4 out of 5 celery salt shakers and add them to my list of hot dog establishments to which I hope to bike some day.

Aidan

Wiener Circle

In the restaurant world, service seems to rate high on some lists. People want to interact with others and be treated in certain ways. Some restaurants get known for their service more than their food. Such is the case with the Wiener Circle, which located along the bars of Clark and Diversey have found a niche with hot dogs and traditonally racially motivated insults thrown at the drunk patrons. While famous for this, we decided to attend during the day light hours to get a more food focused experience.

The Wiener Circle was empty when we entered and I placed my order of one hot dog with everything and fries. It took them a while for the staff to get it together, but in the end, after repeating the order and listening to a discussion over what it bi-polar disorder, our food was delivered.

We then made our ways to the picnic benches outside and watched the cars of Clark roll by while

being watched by most people on the street. The hot dogs was a good. It had been about two weeks since I had had a good hot dog and it brought back the reason for the season. There was a good snap on the casing, an adequate amount of mustard, relish and onions. The tomatoes were wedges, but were generously given. The pickle was crisp, but a little short, meaning that it did not come into play until bite number two. The bun seemed to have the needed intergrety, but I ate my pretty fast.

The fries were okay. While fresh cut, they were thicker that I like them and where give seperately in side container. The more I think about it, there is no need to seperate fries from a dog, unless they are are cheese fries. We're all friends here, right?

Overall, it was a good experience. Service might have been a bit slow and the fries not to my liking, but the hot dog was good. I would give Wiener Circle 3.5 out of 5 celery salt shakers.

Dan

I had only been to the Weiner's Circle once before and I have to say that experience had left me a little traumatized. I like to think I learned 2 things on that visit: no matter what anyone says, the cheese at Weiner's Circle sucks; and Weiner's Circle is not the safest space for visibily queer people after dark. In any case, several years have passed and I had heard enough props for this hot dog that I decided it was worth another shot.

The ambience was much improved in daylight. There was only one other customer and we were able to enjoy our dogs outside, which I find most enjoyable. It was a great day to sit outside in a Cubs shirt and I feel that added to my experience for certain.

I actually even enjoyed the hot dog itself. The tomatoes seemed a bit smaller than the usual tomato but there were 3 slices so my dog was covered. All of the other condiments were adequate but unremarkable. My bun held together well and the dog had the snap that I love so well. I think I was expecting to not enjoy myself based on previous Weiner's Circle experiences but I found there was nothing about which to complain. I did not have the fries so I can't really speak to that experience. I'm not sure if I'd make a special trip or (gasp!) go after dark, but I would certainly stop if I were in the hood. For that, I'll give the Weiner's Circle 3.5 out of 5 celery salt shakers.

Wrigley Field

While staunchly placed within the Chicago city limits, Wrigley Field traditionally has not been a beacon of good hot dogs. For years, it was better to bring in one's hot dog than buy it there due to price and overall quality. During the last few years, there seems to have been shift in idea of the Wrigley Field as only a place to watch a game and now an all around food, drink and entertainment zone. The good and bad of this can be endlessly debated, but this being a hot dog blog we will save that discussion for a more appropriate space.

There are two hot dog options at Friendly confines, a couple of free standing Chicago hot dog stands and then the all-purpose hot dog sold at jumbo stands and by the walking vendors. I had had the all-purpose dog a number of times and they get the job done, but have limited condiments available, which limits its greatness. The Chicago hot dog stands have been around for the last few years and many times have the full variety of condiments.

It had been agreed that we would get some hot dogs during the top of 5th, but I got hungry and got one around the top of 4th. At this point, the score was tied 2-2 and I was feeling good that the Cubs had actually scored some runs, despite our starting pitching looking uneasy. This allowed me to enjoy my hot dog in a relatively pleased emotional state.

I went to the Chicago hot dog stand that was closest to my seats and got one with grilled onions, as there was no non-grilled option. It was expensive, but this Wrigley Field and everything is expensive. I then proceed to the accompanying condiment bar, where I got some mustard, neon green relish, chopped tomatoes and celery salt. I then got a beer and headed back to my seat.
From ordering my dog to my seat, my poppy seed bun completely fell apart. It was flat when it was given to me and seemed to get further sogged down by the semi-grilled onions and condiments. The hot dog itself was okay, but I came into contact with a number of harder objects in the dog that was slightly disconcerting. The condiments were all over the place, figuratively and literally. Mustard and relish was good, but the grilled onions were only partly grilled, and thus much larger than usual. The tomatoes were chopped and did not have much taste, but were suprisingly crisp.

With larger than usual onions and chopped tomatoes, the hot dog became unruly. This top heaviness along with a disintegrating bun made the hot dog hard to hold. This lead to problems getting consistent bites that included bun, hot dog and condiments. There was no stablitizing effect of a tomato wedge or slice, the partial grilled onions slipped all over the place and most of the condiments ended up on me, my plate or my scorecard.

I went in with low expectations of the Wrigley Field Chicago Hot Dog and it exceeded those expectations. With that said, there are standards by which a hot dog must be judged and there were a number of issues that hounded this hot dog. I would give this hot dog 2 out of 5 celery salt shakers.

Dan

I had the misfortune of waiting until the 5th inning to order my dog. By the time I had it in my hot little hands, the Sox had scored 3 runs and I was in a mood most foul. I will grant that this may have decreased my enjoyment of my Wrigley Field dog.

I also went to one of the stands that claimed to have a Chicago style dog. This consisted of a hot dog on a soggy poppyseed bun with partially grilled onions. I am a fan of grilled onions, but I like them all the way grilled or raw. I'm not interested in this half assed business. I went to the condiment bar, but my only options there were relish (not of the neon green variety), mustard and (gasp!) ketchup. I decided to let the ketchup slide, as it is an acceptable topping for burgers and the like. I'm going to assume that is why it is available. So, to recap, I had a soggy poppyseed bun with a hot dog, partially grilled onions, and relish. I was not able to find a pickle spear, tomatoes, or celery salt to round out my hot dog eating experience. This set me back $5.25. While I expected Wrigley Field to be expensive, that seems a bit outrageous. But I digress.

The bun fell apart about halfway through my eating, despite the fact that I ate it immediately (I didn't return to my seat) and I had very limited toppings/condiments. The grilled onions were disconcerting, as they were larger than raw onions and had a distinct notquitegrillednotquiteraw taste. The hot dog itself was pretty good and the casing had a good snap.

I was most disappointed with my Wrigley dog experience and I will not be eating another. It ruins a good thing, that good thing being the Chicago style dog. I'm going to give it 1.5 out of 5 celery salt shakers, based purely on the merit of the hot dog itself.

Aidan

Jim's Original 5.14.10

1250 S Union Ave.

In the world of Chicago grease joints, the hot dog has a common and closely associated cousin. A cousin who hails with inspiration from one of my motherlands, Poland. I, of course, speak of the Polish hot dog, which uses, as one might expect, a polish sausages instead of a hot dog. Now are they be judged in the same way? They do not have the same traditionally toppings. So I would think not. Can a Polish hot dog stand also accurately represent it's cousin, the hot dog? Well, this question needed to answered and so it was put the test at Jim's Original.

Jim, well, claimed to be the original maker of the Polish hot dogs, which grew to fame and prestige along with Maxwell Street of old. A place filled with low cost goods at even lower than expected prices and since shut down by the expanding wings of UIC (or UICC to real old school members of our society), Jim's now sits on Union Ave, just south of Roosevelt Ave, along side the Dan Ryan Expressway. It is a large shack with two order lines that brings one face to face with sweaty men slaving over the grilling of onions and steaming of hot dog buns. A long stainless steel ledge runs along the side of building for patrons of all ages, races and sizes to enjoy a true Chicago meal while soaking in the sights of the downtown, noises of a main artery and pleasure of man, woman and child enjoying food.

Anyway, upon coming up to window, I was prompted to order and so I did. One hot dog, one polish (free fries with both) and a can of RC. I was give the options of grilled or raw onions for both and went as tradition tells me. Grilled for the polish and raw for the dog. The items were quickly assembled with an interesting take on the mustard. It was spread on the bun first before putting in the hot dog.

I tried the hot dog first, which was made in the Old Chicago Style of mustard, onions, relish, hot peppers and fries. While other Old Chicago Style wrap the fries in the same paper as the hot dogs, they were in a separate bag at Jim's. The hot dog was very good. Nice snap, with an appropriate helping of onions, relish. The mustard I felt was unable to mix as well with the other ingredients as it was more of a spread than a topping. The hot peppers were not sport peppers and where the hottest peppers I have ever had on a hot dog. It took me quite a while to recover with help of my RC. I did also try to fries on top of the hot dog and it was a good combo.

As for the polish, I was surprised a bit by it. I had bought polish hot dogs from Vienna Beef recently and they were a larger than a hot dog, but stopped and started as hot dog does. The polish I got a Jim's was significantly bigger, had a rougher grind on the internal meat and seemed to be half of a larger link. There was no messing around. It did combine well with grilled onions and mustard (also placed on the bun instead of the dog.) I enjoyed my polish, but I think that I am more of hot dog man which is less meat based and more topping focused.

In short, the hot dog at Jim's original was very good. Yes, there were some issues, such as a mustard spread and a too hot pepper, but it was moment of goodness. It had been a while since I had had Old School Chicago dog and I really like them. They remind me of hot dogs I would eat as kid when we would go to Cubs games with our next door neighbors. That along with the ambiance of Jim's and the company of the meal, really made this 4 out of 5 celery salt shaker experience for me.

Dan

This was the first hot dog in a while that I was excited about. I believe my first words were "this is so f***ing good" and I was not lying. The hot dog was of the old school variety, meaning it only had relish (not neon green at that), onions, and mustard as toppings. I am generally more so a fan of the newer version of the Chicago style dog with the tomatoes and pickle, but I was pleasantly surprised by this hot dog. The bun lacked poppy seeds but held together well. In an interesting twist, the mustard was smeared on the bun itself rather than added as a topping. I thought that it worked well but it did diffuse the mustard taste a bit. I appreciated that as I am still a little hesitant about eating mustard in general. The dog had a nice casing and a satisfying snap and the onions and relish were not overpowering. This was the first establishment that has ever asked if I wanted grilled or raw onions on my dog, which was an interesting option. I went with the standard raw onions but appreciated the option.

The hot dogs came with free fries and normally that means the hot dog and fries are wrapped up together. This also means that some of the fries get stuck to the hot dog, creating an entirely new taste sensation. This is also most generally how the old school dogs come, so I was a little disappointed that it was not the case here. I tried adding some fries to the dog myself, but it just didn't taste the same. That's pretty much my only compliant, though, so all in all I give this establishment a thumbs up. The fact that the beverage options included RC in a can really pushes me in a positive direction as well. There is only a counter outside for "seating" but it was a beautiful day when we were there and it added to the experience to be able to enjoy the Chicago summer sun and look at the skyline. It would have been an eat in the car situation if it were cold or rainy, though, so I would recommend saving this place for a day you want to be outside. I would give Jim's Original Maxwell Street 4 out of 5 celery salt shakers, or an above average rating.

Aidan

As a transplant to Chicago, I had only heard rumors that tube steak (aka the hot dog) could be more complicated than toppings such as mustard, relish and onions or perhaps sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard. However upon arriving in Chicago I had my first “Chicago Dog” and I think it’s safe to say my perspective changed. Who knew an entire salad belonged on a hot dog? Who knew that while ketchup definitely belongs on fries that its distant cousin, the real tomato, would add a delightfully fresh touch to the hot dog?

Dan and Aidan, that’s who. They also apparently knew that Maxwell Street offers the so-called original version of the Chicago style hot dog. This delightful treat involves mustard, raw or grilled onions (I got mine grilled), mustard and mouth numbing inferno peppers. Ok, so maybe they weren’t that hot but my mouth could only handle one. This dog did not nestle down inside of a steamed poppy seed bun, nor did it have a pickle, relish or tomato on the top. However, it was delicious and a nice change from the Chicago dog I have become used to eating.

I think the best thing about this dog is how simple it is. There are a few ingredients but they are all quality. The onions added a smoky flavor to the dog and were a nice contrast to the hot peppers. I am very glad I got the onions grilled as this extra touch really made the dog and distracted me from the large amounts of napkins blowing down the sidewalk. Apparently eating next to the freeway does not promote use of the trash cans. In defense of the Maxwell Street establishment, it was a windy day.

Back to the food-In addition to the dog I also got some fries, which were delicious. Then again, I never met a potato I didn’t like!

I give Maxwell Street 4 celery saltshakers. I would go back again and dine on a dog especially if it means I get to actually have a lunch break during the week.

Elizabeth (guest blogger)

Herm's Hot Dog Palace 5.8.10

Address: 3406 Dempster St
Skokie, IL 60203


I tried my hot dog with mustard this time. I am usually not a fan of the mustard, but I felt it was time to let the symphony of the traditional Chicago style flavors wash over me. Who am I to alter greatness? In other news, I ate a hamburger with mayo later the same day. That was not by choice and was less enjoyable, but all in all still a sauce filled day. In any case, I enjoyed the mustard and may continue to go that route, or at least eat one hot dog with mustard since I usually get 2 wherever we go.

The hot dog itself was on the high end of average. It was nothing special, but all the necessary ingredients were in place (minus the celery salt). The bun held together well, the hot dog was Vienna Beef, and the toppings were acceptable. The more interesting part of Herm's is actually Herm's itself.

We arrived and placed our order and when were told to "sit down and relax" until our food was ready. I, for one, found this difficult, as we had not yet paid. I find it unsettling to try to engage in hot dog related conversation whilst wondering if I am going to be beckoned back to the register at any moment. It turned out that we ate our food and then went back to pay. The man behind the counter was impressive, both in terms of remembering what we had ordered as well as adding up the totals of said orders out loud. I'm guessing all prices include tax. It just seems like a strange system and one that begs for people to try to dine and dash. It also took away some of my enjoyment by leaving me on edge about what to expect.

Overall, Herm's was an enjoyable experience and the hot dog was pretty good. I would give it 3.5 out of 5 celery salt shakers and an I would go back but only if I was already in the area.

Aidan

I passed Herm's Palace many times during my youth on the way to my grandmother's house, but never stopped due to fact that she would inevitably have some amazing food and candy to be enjoyed. Aidan and I had seen and noted Herm's last year during our travels to Poochie's just a few blocks down the road and it brought back boyish questions of what was it like. Now was the time to learn and know for sure.

I was feeling a bit hungover due to a previous evening spent socializing with a side of dancing, but was game for the good times of a hot dog. Herm's apparently had recently gone under a freshen coat of paint ("makes everything look so much better", my grandmother correctly used to say) in the form of a Chicago themed mural with greats from the 80's and 90's (Not too many mural worthy members of the Chicago society during the 00's, I guess). In addition, there was large seating area, which was quite filled and a nice amount of natural light. The order taker jovially informed us a number of times to let him know when we were ready and finally it was decided. I went with a hot dog and fries, along with a cheeseburger to help with the nocturnal good times.

Upon placing our order, we were told to grab a seat. We did not pay at this time. This was the same paying set up as Poochie's and we nearly walked out of there without paying. So this time we were much more nervous and kept watching to see when you pay.

During this period of high anxiety, our food was brought to the table, with no mention of compensation. The hot dog looked good. Herm's had quite the extensive menu which in my current theory means they will be unable to give due time and effort to honing their hot dog skills. Yet, I think we have a found an exception. It was a steamed Rosen's sesame seed bun, natural casing Vienna Beef hot dog, mustard, neon green relish, onions, two big sections of tomato and a pickle spear. It also really good, with a nice snap, pleasing Vienna Beef flavor and the condiments along with bun joining hands in community and marching in unison with each other. It tasted like a classically prepared Chicago Hot Dog should and I believe is an accurate standard for an average hot dog. It did what it claimed it would. No more, no less.

The fries were also good and I believe of the thin Sysco variety. The cheeseburger on the other hand was low grade and limited in potential. It was a lot of bun with crispy meat and the "everything" condiment selection was identical to that of a hot dog. I am not joking, they put the required condiments of a Chicago style hot dog on my hamburger. Now I love the hot dog toppings, but there are not meant for the hamburger, which deserves its own unique pairing to bring out the burger's strengths. It was like drinking red wine with fish, if you get my drift.

In conclusion, Herm's Palace had nice ambiance, a very solid hot dog and a pay on the way out sort of compensation system (your order taker will attempt to remember what you had and then impressively add it up in his head. Long live mental math.) I would give Herm's Palace a very solid 3 celery salt shakers and would return for a hot dog if in the area but would head for Poochie's instead for my burger fix.

Dan

Fred Hots 5.2.10

Address:1707 Chestnut Ave.
Glenview, IL 60025

I’ll be honest and say that I went in with expectations that were on the low side. I had been told that Fred Hot’s was trying to be a sort of Hot Doug’s and that turned me off. To be honest, I don’t know that Hot Doug’s is good enough to inspire knock offs. Now I know that might sound blasphemous and probably is a story for the Hot Doug’s blog, but let’s just say that I think Hot Doug’s is good, but there are other hot dog stands that are better and don’t get as much respect. Perhaps my opinion will change on my next visit, during which I plan to try a specialty sausage. Maybe my issue is that I am basing my entire opinion on the Chicago style dog and missing the big picture. But I digress.

I ordered the fRed Hot and fries and an order of Fred Pups. I was expecting mini corn dogs and got mini hot dogs, but that was certainly at least half my bad for not confirming said expectation whilst ordering. The fRed Hot was a traditional Chicago style dog. The fries were fresh cut and were pretty good. Mine were a little on the undercooked side but I actually appreciated that. I got a side of cheese sauce with my fries. This is not a necessary part of the Chicago Style hot dog meal and so that needs to be noted. However, I am a man who has rarely met a cheese he doesn’t like and I will go ahead and say I didn’t like this cheese. I am a bit of a purist and a snob when it comes to my cheese fry cheese and I will also acknowledge that. It had a grainy texture and an oil sheen on the top. I believe it was Merck’s cheese. This might be a bonus for most people but I found it disappointing. I actually ended up eating most of my fries without the cheese. In other news, the meal came with a small drink that had unlimited refills, so plus one Fred Hots for understanding that it is necessary to remain hydrated while consuming massive amounts of nitrates.

Onto the fRed Hot itself…upon first glance it looked like it was going to be delicious. I forgot to take a picture, which I know is an amateur move. The hot dog was Vienna Beef and was delicious in and of itself. The bun had poppy seeds, there were 2 tomato slices, and there was visible celery salt. The relish was neon green, the onions were neither over or under represented, and the pickle had a good amount of crunch. Overall, there was certainly nothing wrong with the dog but there was nothing special either. I would have liked a place called Fred Hots to have a hot dog that popped. It wasn’t really any better than a hot dog I could get at any grease joint and that is a sadness indeed.

I might go back to Fred Hots, but if I do it will either be because I am already in Glenview putting in face time with my Grandma or because I am going back to try the Italian Beef. I give Fred Hots 3 out of 5 celery salt shakers as well.

Aidan



fRed Hots

I must say that I had mixed feelings about fRed Hots before I went. I had heard that they were a take off of Hot Doug's, with a variety of exotic hot dogs, such as boar, elk and the like. I must admit that I am not sure about this recent trend to vary the hot dog meats. Let us be real. The hot dog was and certainly still is a everything else type of sausage. The whole animal should be enjoyed and those parts that need to be ground up to very small pieces to be enjoyed with other sections traditionally found themselves in a hot dog. Are we doing the same thing with the exotic hot dogs? It seems there is a feeling of needing to class up a hot dog, which I disagree with. There is nothing wrong with a hot dog as it is and that just needs to be stated. Then again, who I am to stand in the way of progress and experimentation. All I am saying is respect the original.

Anyway, I had the fRed Hot and fries. The hot dog was good, but had no real wow factor. The hot dog itself was Vienna Beef with a natural casing, but seemed a bit tasteless this time. The bun had poppy seeds and was not really well steamed. The bun really seemed to dominate and my last bite, which I traditionally enjoy as it mainly hot dog with bun and random leftovers, was too doughy. The condiments were unremarkable, with the right mix of mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, pickle and celery salt. Most everything was right, but I wanted more and it did not materialize. The fries were fresh cut and well cooked. (I apparently got the last of batch order specially order "well done", which seems the way to go.)

I did also try the Smoked Salmon Dog. It was a smoked salmon hot dog topped with wasabi aioli sauce, red onions, chopped tomatoes and capers on a wheat bun. Overall, it was okay. The
Smoked Salmon dog and the wasabi sauce dominated, leaving little room for the bun, onions or capers to speak. The Smoked Salmon dog itself had a strange consistency that made me think, salmon was not meant to ground to the hot dog degree. The casing had a nice snap, but the inside was an off-putting combination of being flaky, airy and mushy at different points in time. You don't know what you were going to get.

As for the atmosphere, the order taker was a little pushy, asked me "if everything meant Chicago style?" (Seriously? Where are we?) and made my order feel rushed. I know they have people to serve, but it only takes a little while to make a hot dog. It was nice to sit outside though and enjoy the sunshine.

In conclusion, fRed hots was average, on the low side and I gave Donald's a 2. So I think that fReds Hots should receive a rating of 2.5 celery shakers. I don't think I would return, except for the Italian Beef, which is supposed to be good.

Dan

Donalds

Donald's Famous Hot Dogs

2325 South Western Ave.

When I first walked into Donald's Famous Hot Dogs, I had a premonitions that I would not famously remember these hot dogs for being good. Now, I can understand how readers of this blog might get feeling that I am hot dog pessimistic as I have had low intial expectations of the last two entries. Upon further reflection one sleepless night, I came to idea that ambiance speaks to me and in case of the hot dogs, the simpler, the better. When I walked into Donald's, I was hit by a number of signs proclaiming the greatness of jalapeno poppers, homemade Italian Beef and a menu that had seemed to have grown considerably over the years. There were too many choices. This not only confuses and adds more decisions for the customer, but also the staff, who is pulled in many different directions, with too much equipment to man and understand and is unable to hone and perfect the art of the dog. Most of the hot dogs that I have really enjoyed come from stands that really only focus on hot dogs and few other items, usually tamales. It is in these temples of hot dogs, that pracitioners of the hot dog through high turn over and years of practice are able to produce fresh and simple hot dogs that speak to the soul. Please don't get me wrong, grease joints that prepare a large selection of delicious grease inspired items have their time and place, but often seem unable to reach the higher levels of hot dogs greatness as they are weighed down by the bulk of their menu.

Anyway, on to the dogs. I got the 2 hot dog, fries and drink special, which took quite a while to come out (Another negative of the large menu, wait times are increased). The hot dog was Vienna Beef and was probably my favorite part of this dog as the taste and snap get better with each bite, encouraging one to have another. The bun was pretty standard and held together, but did not have poppy seeds. The mustard and non-neon green relish were also standard and mostly unremarkable. From here, things began to fall apart. There were way to many onions on the hot dog. There must have been a quarter of a chopped onion on each dog and they just crushed everything else. In addition, they had a strange taste that made me think they had been sitting out too long. The tomatoes were small and there was no to limited celery salt to help them pop. In addition, the option of sport peppers did not seemed to be available. While I could not stand the dog for the most part, I did enjoy the final bite which consisted on bun, hot dog and tomato and thus encouraged me to eat the other dog.

It was even more oniony and even removing half of the onions only partial increased enjoyment.

In conclusion, I did not enjoy Donald's Famous Hot Dogs and will not return for special trip or stop by. They did advertise a homemade Italian Beef sandwich, so maybe that is more their speciality these days. I would give Donald's 2 out of 5 celery salt shakers.

Dan

I had seen signs for Donald’s on several GenderJUST related trips down Western and I was excited to eat the hot dogs that were so highly spoken of by said signs. Immediately upon entering, however, I had a big feeling that we were in for yet another nothing special but not too upsetting Chicago style dog. I got 2 hot dogs, fries, and a small Dr. Pepper for $5.96, which pleased me. The Dr. Pepper was delicious and the fries were reasonably crisp and reminded me of the fries I used to get at my local grease joint when I was a wee lad. The hot dogs were, as predicted, nothing special.

The bun did not have poppy seeds and did not seem to have been steamed. The hot dog itself was Vienna Beef, which is always acceptable and enjoyable. The tomato slice was pretty big. It would have been better if tomatoes were in season, but I suppose I cannot hold Donald’s responsible for the fact that this is not yet the case. The relish was the older school (not neon green) style. I actually prefer the taste of the old school relish but prefer the asthetics of the neon green version. In any case, I have no complaints about the relish. The pickle spear was decent sized and had reasonable crunch. The 2^nd hot dog I ate was missing the skin on the pickle spear, but it actually worked out all right taste wise so I guess that is also more of an asthetic issue. There did seem to be some celery salt but more is always better.

The major problem I had with these hot dogs was the onions. Now, normally I’m a big fan of onions and have been known to eat burgers with just onions, so for me to be complaining about onions you know there is a serious issue. Dan and I couldn’t quite get to the bottom of said issue, but here are some thoughts: certainly part of the problem was sheer volume. I scraped off about half the onions on my 2^nd dog and that helped the taste out a lot. The volume of onions was overpowering to some of the other toppings and having half as much restored the balance somewhat. I still think that the taste of said onions was a little off, though, and it is my personal theory that they had been partially caramelized or grilled or something. I suppose it is also possible that it was a different variety of onion that is usually found on a Chicago style dog, but as stated above, I really like onions so I don’t think there is a variety I wouldn’t like on my hot dog. I found the onion situation quite disconcerting and it disrupted my enjoyment of the hot dog.

All in all, the food was acceptable and the price was right. However, seeing as I rarely find myself at Western and 23^rd without a reason, I doubt that I will eat at Donald’s again. I can get a mediocre hot dog much closer to home. I give Donald’s 3 out of 5 celery salt shakers.

Aidan

Murph's Hot Dogs

Murph’s Hot Dogs

3930 W. Montrose Ave.

Today, we made a special trip to Murph’s Hot Dogs, which is just a stone’s throw from our perspective residences. Now, one might think that the special trip was made due to hearing of its greatness in food, ambience or combination of the two, but one would be wrong. No, we took a special trip, because Murph’s never seems to be open. Numerous drive-by’s have only brought repeat disappointment. In a bold move, Aidan called and discovered that apparently one could enjoy their goods from the hours of 11 to 7 DAILY. I was not so sure.

Yet, today at 6:00 pm, they were open and hot dogs were enjoyed.

Before I begin my discussion of the two hot dog special with fries and a can of sodie-pop, I must disclose that I had low expectations of Murph’s. It seemed to be your average family-owned and operated grease joint, which usually provides run of the mill hot dogs with varying success. With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised. The hot dog was Vienna Beef and had the traditional snap and flavor that we have come to know and love. The bun seemed to be a step up from your 69 cent buns that can be bought (on sale of course) at one’s local grocery store. It was sans poppy seeds and not steamed, but held up with limited chewiness. The mustard, onion and tomato were fresh and complimented the hot dog. The relish was not the neon green variety, but nevertheless was enjoyable. It had more taste that the neon, but was not overpowering. The real winner of this dog was the pickle. It seemed to be from a barrel, light brined so as to have still a hint of cucumber taste and freshness and fit perfectly on the bun. It was a slice of pickle as opposed to the spear, which perhaps allowed it boldly claim its presence without dominating the other condiments.

As for the intangibles, a plus must be given for the outside picnic table that allowed one to enjoy the sun, the breeze and the crawling traffic of Montrose Ave. Another plus must be given for the Sysco-tastic fries and refrigerated ketchup that came along with it. A minus, unfortunately, must also be give for asking if we wanted ketchup on our hot dogs.

In conclusion, the two hot dog special for $5.24 was a deal and a meal. Hot dogs were slightly above average, due to the pickle, but I doubt I will make another special trip to Murph’s. This is because there are better hot dog and/ or grease joints in the area, namely, Susie’s and Beef and Burger. In addition, I am sacred that if I did make a special trip, Murph’s would be closed, but that is the another story.

Dan


I think the word (or words, to be grammatically correct) of the day is "pleasantly surprised." After having lived in Albany Park for nearly a year and NOT ONCE seeing Murph's open, it seemed necessary to seize the opportunity to sample their wares. I mean, seriously, I was convinced that this was yet another mom and pop operation that had been pushed out of the way by the man. In any case, that is not in fact the case, so on to the dog.

The bun itself was nothing special. It was certainly not a Rosen's bun and didn't have poppy seed and had not been steamed. However, it did not add any sort of negative taste and it help up well so all in all I have to report that the bun is acceptable. The dog was the traditional Vienna Beef, which was a welcome development after the debacle that was last week's Chicago dog. Now, I generally enjoy independently made dogs over the mass produced Vienna Beef, but this hot dog reminded me of the genius that is Vienna Beef. And that brings us to the toppings. The relish was not the traditional neon green, but added a subtle and delicious flavor. The onions were nothing special and neither upset nor impressed me. The tomato was an adequate size. It will be better when tomatoes are in season, but I suppose I can't hold Murph's accountable for that not yet being the case. The pickle was exceptional. I'm not sure how or why, but it was fantastic. I think it may have something to do with the tips of said pickle being cut off, but I won't go on record with that. My major complaint would be the total lack of celery salt.

The fries, while standard grease joint out of a bag of frozen fries, were still delicious and crisp and I certainly enjoyed the straight out of the cooler ketchup. I also very much enjoyed the opportunity to have a can of soda and the soda selection was quite impressive.

The opportunity to eat at a not-entirely-sturdy picnic table steps off of Montrose was an excitement, especially on such a nice night. I myself very well might wander west on Montrose in search of a hot dog, and if I happened to see that Murph's was open, I might stop by. I suppose it would all depend on whether I was in the market for a dog or for an entire meal. If I just wanted the dog, I would certainly continue my trek all the way to Susie's. The hot dog seems to be the only decent item on Susie's menu, though, so if I'm hungry enough Susie's doesn't really cut it. If I wanted a gyro, I would certainly head up the street to Beef and Burger for the best gyro in the city, but that is a story for another blog. The $5.24 2 hot dogs, fries, and can of soda pop deal at Murph's would be hard to pass up if I was hungry. I figure it wouldn't be a crushing disappointment if I headed up to Murph's and found they were closed, as it is directly between my abode and Susie's or Beef and Burger.

Lou's Coney Island

April 9, 2010 Lou’s Coney Island

3455 N Southport Ave.

We tried out the Lou’s Coney Island today and reviews were mixed. First of all, it is a far cry from the hot dog shack. It was more like a Steak and Shake, but for hot dogs, with booths, chairs, servers and kitschy decorations that remind you of that the allure of the 50’s still lives on.

Anyway, onto the Dogs. I got two dogs, a Chicago Style and the Classic Coney Dog with fries.

The Chicago Style was below average. The poppy seed bun was not steamed and thus still had some chew left in it. The hot dog itself was made by Keogel meats and did seem to have a natural casing, but it was thin and did not much flavor. In addition, the outside was much more brown than the inside, which I, for some reason, found slightly disconcerting. The toppings continued to push this hot dog’s rating down with diced tomatoes and a small and very processed pickle that gave limited additional flavor or snap. I would compare the pickle to the one used at Suzie’s, but it did not work as the hot dog itself and the other condiments did not meld together well.

As for the Coney Island Dog, it was very good. It was mainly a chili dog on a non-poppy seed bun, topped with mustard and chopped onions. In this case, all the condiments went very well together and worked well with the hot dog itself. As I am not a chili dog expert, I have not much to report on the specifics and thus will say, I liked it and would return for it.

So in conclusion, Lou’s Coney Island has below standard Chicago Hot Dogs, but does excel in the Detroit style Coney Island Dog and is worth a return trip.

Dan

I also enjoyed the Coney Dog with fries alongside a traditional Chicago Style dog. I had been informed that the chili was good, and that was certainly true. The hot dogs are made by Koegel Meats rather than the more traditional Vienna Beef dog, I'll go ahead and say that the whole Coney Dog (or at least the Coney Dog Aidan style, or minus the mustard) was enjoyable. The chili was the highlight, but the bun was acceptable and the hot dog worked well in that venue. The fries were nothing special, but certainly got the job done. I was not personally a fan of the cheese fries, as the cheese seemed to be a nacho cheese and that is not how I roll. I am a bit of a purist when it comes to my cheese fries.

The Chicago style dog, however, was an entirely different story. The hot dog was not a tasty platform for the traditional Chicago style toppings. Again, said hot dogs were not Vienna Beef, which is often a plus but in this case it had mixed results. There was a natural casing so I got a satisfying pop with my bites but the taste was just not right. Despite the bun not being steamed, I will grant that it held together well, the relish was neon green, and the pickle spear fit on the bun. There was also a reasonable amount of celery salt, and I always appreciate that. The onions were fine as well. The tomatoes were diced and, although I may have felt differently in the past, diced tomatoes are unacceptable. The flavor gets too diluted and the texture is off. Of course, I managed to finish it, but I did not enjoy my Chicago Style hot dog and that is a great sadness.

On the other hand, I realized I had met my server the week before at my neighborhood bar and so I like to think that once again hot dogs brought people together and created much joy. The restaurant was not a grease joint, and there was sitting and waiting and tipping involved, which sort of gave the whole experience a strange edge. I am not used to eating hot dogs under such conditions. It may have been a bit too fancy for hot dog eating, in fact. I might go back, but only if I really wanted Coney Dogs.

Aidan