You can teach an old dog...

God I love a good hotdog. In Chicago and the near West Burbs when you order a dog it comes with fries.. Some chain places only sell you a dog. That pi$$es me off to no end. Its a tradition that hold had all the way from the lake shore to about rt 53 (about 25 miles West of the city) after that the rules fall apart. I'm even willing to forgive ketchup on a dog for adults as well as kids, but NO FRIES and still charge me $3.00 for a dog- your nutz....My own dog is a typical Chicago style -Pickle spear, relish, mustard, tomato, mustard, sport peppers and celery salt. I just can't do raw onion. I also do not mind 'kraut and mustard.
I did find a place near me that does give fries with the dog for $2.65 and they even go a very odd style dog- the GYRO dog. Bun, gyro sauce, tomato and onion, the wiener and gyro meat. I have to say it was not a bad dog. You can teach an old dog new tricks...
     So with this weekend being the Fourth of July , spark up the grill and get some dogs cooking.... Peace.

Reprinted with out permission from the Daily Herald. 7/2/08 ... (I'll be happy to remove if asked)


All dressed up

Mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle, celery salt and sport peppers. I learned that mantra my first day working at Fratello's, a now-closed hot dog stand in Palatine.

While fanatics continue to debate the merits of neon green relish versus the dark green variety and the necessity of poppyseeds on the bun, that lineup of garnishes tops an official Chicago hot dog.

Here's a look at how folks in other parts of this great land dress their dogs.

Atlanta: Buy a hot dog at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, and you'll end up with your dog topped with the usual condiments and a heap of coleslaw.

Boston: Ketchup, mustard, relish, picalilli and chopped onions are Beantown's most common toppings.

Cincinatti: The town's famous chili as well as mild cheddar, mustard and diced onion top dogs in this Ohio berg.

Kansas City, Mo.: You'll need mints after eating a hot dog served with sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese on a sesame seed bun.

New York City: From downtown Manhattan to Coney Island, when you buy a hot dog in the Big Apple, it will come with steamed onions and a pale, deli-style yellow mustard.

The Rockie Dog: Served at Coors Field in Denver, the home of the Colorado Rockies, this footlong dog comes with grilled peppers, kraut and onions.

The Texas Dog: Chili, cheese and jalapenos make this a favored item in the Houston area.

- Deborah Pankey