Gary J Sibio
Public domain image courtesy of Wikipedia.
Chicago is known for many things: the Chicago Cubs, gangsters, the lakefront, the Chicago Cubs, its many parks, the annual springtime pothole slalom, the Chicago Cubs and, oh yeah, the Chicago Cubs.
Less well known, it you don’t live here as I have for over 50 years, is the Chicago Hotdog. What makes a hotdog a Chicago Hotdog? Mainly a bunch of people who can’t resist the temptation to tell others how to live their lives. That, and the following ingredients:
- An all-beef hotdog
- A sesame seed bun
- Yellow mustard
- Chopped onions, white
- Bright green sweet pickle relish
- A dill pickle spear
- Tomato (slices or wedges)
- Pickled sports peppers
- Celery salt
- The complete absence of ketchup.
Some refer to it as “dragging it through the garden.” I think the compost pile is a bit better of an analogy.
OK, all-beef hotdogs are the best. That’s a given. And I do like sesame seeds on my bun but the guy who gave me my last colonoscopy told me to eliminate them or, at least, cut back.
I believe that yellow mustard, possibly all mustard, was created by Satan himself. I refuse to touch the stuff.
The chopped onions are OK. Sometimes I put them on my hotdog, usually I don’t.
Bright green sweet pickle relish comes from the toxic waste dumps of New Jersey. The Russians use it to poison enemy agents.
Dill pickle spears are good but often slide out of the bun. Not a big deal. It can be dealt with. I usually eat them separately.
Sometimes I’ll put tomatoes on a hotdog but it’s not necessary. If I do, they’re chopped so they have a better chance of making it to my mouth than my lap.
Pickled sport peppers, yes. Actually any hot pepper. The more the merrier. Bring on the burn!
Who puts celery salt on anything? I’ve spent most of my adult life avoiding celery. Why would I use it on purpose?
Ketchup, wonderful ketchup. Load it on. If you don’t like it, deal with it. I don’t try to force you to to use it, don’t try to stop me. I don’t care what you think. Butt out of my culinary experience. And for a real treat, add some hot sauce. And don’t forget the ketchup for the fries. Or go ahead, put your beloved mustard on them for all I care.
Text © 2018 Gary J Sibio. All rights reserved.
This is just the kind of stuff I love and plenty of it, I would eat one of these with Chinese hot mustard,
Have you ever tried putting kim chi on a hotdog. It’s really good.
I will not order it. Then I will have great stomach aches
Lots of people feel that way. I have an iron-clad stomach so I would be fully able to eat it, I just don’t like mustard, relish or celery salt.
Are you allowed to ask for certain ingredients to be left out? I like subway rolls, they are takeaway and you can choose the type of bread and select your own fillings. They are very healthy
The hardcore Chicago Hotdog fans allow no alterations. I used to really like Subway but they have really gone downhill in the USA. We have another chain called Jimmy Johns which is very good.
Sad Subway has gone downhill. Is there a reason for that. I believe people need a healthy take away choice. We don’t have a Jimmy Johns.
That looks like a tummy ache waiting to happen. I think I’ll pass. I don’t like mustard, raw onions, any kind of pickles, or anything hot. I do like the clever way you used your words.
Thanks, Barbara. I love spicy food. I have a jar of kimchi my daughter made for me in the fridge. It also goes well on hotdogs.
Now I’m really shuddering.
I’m in Joliet, IL. All of the ingredients instead of tomato because ketchup is made of tomatoes. Chicago All Day!
Long live ketchup! Mustard must die!
I’m a fan! Maybe because it is a treat to have a Chicago style hotdog. They aren’t easy to find in California.
I have a brother-in-law who lives in Hawaii. He used to bring back Vienna hotdogs until he found a place to get them there.
Hmm…I *like* homemade mustard. Store-bought yellow mustard isn’t much more than vinegar, turmeric for color, and just enough mustard powder the give a slight flavor. With homemade, it is honestly ground mustard in a vinegar base and if black mustard seeds are used, it can sizzle enough to bring tears to the eyes. (It CAN be made blander.)
I also like sweet relish, but prefer the kind made from zucchinis rather than cucumbers. That normally means homemade. With both my wife and daughter on diets, I’m the only one who gets to eat hot dogs, though. The good part of that is that I get to load them up with chopped onions and dragon cayennes. (I’m also the only one in the house who will eat peppers with more zing than bell peppers, unless I “tame” them.)
I love hot peppers. I have a very weak sense of taste so I love hot foods. One of my daughters lost most of her sense of taste as a result of sinus surgery so she is like me.
Looks delicious with the poppy seeds. Never had tomato, thats a great idea.
I like poppy seeds also but my doctor told me to stop eating them. Sometimes I actually listen.
I currently have to avoid all seeds, skins, and pulp until I get over this flare-up. Hard when I’m used to high fiber, living on trail mix, fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats and poultry. Now I have to eat white bread, white rice, etc. Nuts are my favorite snacks, and I can’t have them again yet.
So many restrictions Barbara. I hope you can have what you really enjoy soon.
I have never heard doc say not to eat seeds, hard to digest I guess.
It’s only when my diverticulitis flares up. Seeds, skins, fiber, etc. can get stuck in the diverticula and become inflamed or even infected.
Wow Gary… 456 views, congrats!
Nice texture … colors and tastes … all in one place.
Actually the photo isn’t mine. It’s a public domain image from Wikipedia.
It does not matter … and the sandwich in the picture is really wonderful.
Oops, I screwed up. It’s poppy seeds on the buns, not sesame seeds. Either way, my colon doc told me to lay off foods with seeds.