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
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