Chicago dog toppings

Hello
Can you tell me exactly what a Chicago dog consist of.
Thanks
Pete

quote:

Originally posted by petespups

Hello
Can you tell me exactly what a Chicago dog consist of.
Thanks
Pete

Yellow mustard, chopped onion, green relish, catsup, tomato wedges, pickle spear, celery salt, sport peppers, on a Vienna Beef hotdog in a poppyseed bun.

http://www.viennabeef.com/culture/chicagostyle.asp

Not so sure on the "catsup?!"

I'm not, either, but that's what Vienna Beef says.

Is there anything special about the neon green relish, or is it just food coloring?

We just left the Vienna Beef factory and there is a big tub of ketchup in the employee dining area. The Chicago hot dog kit they sell has no ketchup.

Great site, lots of info!
http://www.hotdogchicagostyle.com/chicagodog.php

NO Ketchup or catsup.......EVER

It has green food coloring and a little sugar for a sweeter relish taste.

quote:

Originally posted by ChiTownDiner

We just left the Vienna Beef factory and there is a big tub of ketchup in the employee dining area. The Chicago hot dog kit they sell has no ketchup.

Well I wouldn't put that red stuff on a hotdog anyway. Fact is, if I had my druthers putting it on a hotdog would be a capital crime.

Our next stop...Jimmy's had a sign and several bullit holes to attest to that....NO ketchup at Jimmy's.

...Russ

The Vienna site does not say to use catsup/ketchup. If you put your cursor over the "Ketchup" ingredient chart you'll see otherwise. It says: "Warning. Limit Exposure Level!" Ask for ketchup in any Chicago hot dog joint or cart and you'll get the 1,000-yard stare. Most refuse to put it on a dog but may have some somewhere for you to put it on yourself.

With that being said, I own a Vienna joint in Charlotte. If I refused to put ketchup on any dog, I'd be vulture meat shortly, having starved to death. I get a complete monthly printout from my system and ketchup and mustard run neck and neck. It used to pain me at first, but I like to eat too.

Russ, hate to tell you, but those 2 dogs are about as far from a Chicago dog as you can get. Do look tasty though.

Not at all. I think Russ has put forth a valiant effort to replicate the Chicago dog using items that anyone can buy at the store. The relish might not be green enough, but there are plenty of places here in Chicago that do not serve the bright neon version.

If it's the charred evidence of grilling that you object to, let it be known that on yesterday's field trip with Biker Jim, our last stop was at Paradise Pup, one of Chicago's best known and most highly respected Hot Dog joints. We all had "char dogs", rather than the steamed version served at most places. They were danged tasty!

I'm not sure what else you're seeing that I'm not, ken. The onion seems to be chopped a bit finer than what you find at most places, and is not in great abundance, but even that varies by the tastes of the proprietor. Everything seems to be there; dog, yellow mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, sport peppers. Russ might be missing the celery salt, but the picture is slightly out of focus so ya never know. Even if it's not there, celery salt is the one ingredient that is the most optional as far as I'm concerned.

I guess he's missing the pickle spear, but I always take mine off and eat it on the side anyway, so I forgive you Russ. Good job. Hope you enjoyed them doggies.

Buddy

The bun doesn't look like a poppy seed bun.

As for the celery salt, would it be visable to the naked eye. Is there a particular place, or should I say layer, on the dog where the celery salt is placed?

Buddy, there are just too many variations to call them a "Classic Chicago Dog." No poppyseeds, no pickle, grilled instead of steamed. I think I do see a pickle spear way on the right side of the right dog though. Plus, what is mustard looked like cheese to me. Actually it looked tom me like there was chili on it. (I have an old monitor).

Not trying to be a snob, just being a purist as to the term "Chicago Style." Like I said, I put on as much ketchup as mustard on the dogs I sell. How's this? When I eat a dog, I usually put a little barbecue sauce on it. I like the taste. Or I'll eat it with just a dab of mustard. I rarely load it up with all the condiments.

When I was a kid and ate off the local carts, they never had the neon relish. I don't think it was "invented" yet. Same for the celery salt. Old Mike used regular salt and pepper if you wanted the pepper. That was about 50 years ago, so my memory may be slipping a little. I'm pretty sure he didn't have celery salt. Not saying those dogs don't look scrumptious. Made me hungry looking at them and a good try with the available condiments. I tried grilling a dog in our air-fryer that we use for fries. Screwed it up badly.

Robearjr - Celery salt is sprinkled on last or before the pickle.

kensandyeggo - The pickle spear on the right is two sport peppers parked bumper to bumper.

Its a Koegel Vienna natural casing dog from Detroit the relish is neon green however it didnt show well.I did add som hot Cherry Peppers to the relish and some fresh jalapeno. Plochmans yellow mustard,Penzeys celery salt, tomatoes, sport peppers and a regular bun. The odds of finding a poppy seed bun in Ohio is 0%. And sorry all I refuse to simmer,boil or steam a Hot Dog when I have a griddle a little butter and olive oil. By the way I added the pickle spear after the pic...Russ

They look good Russ...hope you enjoyed!

Pete,

The following video will show you how to prepare a Chicago style hot dog. A few corrections:

1. Water is heated to boiling, not 180 and reduced to 135(Wisconsin hot hold temp).

2. After mustard is applied, neon green relish is the second condiment and onions are the third.

3. The peppers are sport peppers, not serrano peppers.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=617730

CSD PhD-Professor of Hot Dogs

To someone that is not a native of Chicago, I must ask this question:
With all those toppings, how can you actually taste the dog?

I am fan of neither hot dogs (for the most part) or goo (my affectionate term for most condiments- ketchup, mustard, etc.), but I did order a char dog from Paradise Pup last summer on my trip through Chicago.



It has most of the things that you would find on a Chicago dog, except the goo, and I assure you that I tasted the dog. As a matter of fact, while I did say that I am not a fan of most hot dogs (baseball stadiums are a notable exception), I am pretty sure that Vienna makes my favorites.

quote:

Originally posted by cavandre

To someone that is not a native of Chicago, I must ask this question:
With all those toppings, how can you actually taste the dog?

With your first bite, the casing breaks, offering that famous "snap," with a profusion of flavors bursting ecstatically upon your taste buds, as your mouth rejoices in anticipation for the second bite.

CSD PhD-Professor of Hot Dogs

quote:

Originally posted by MiamiDon

The condiments are color and flavor coordinated to create the entire system known as a Chicago style dog. The yellow mustard, neon green relish, white onions, tomato, pickle, and sport peppers, turn a plain hot dog into a work of art blending flavors with colors.

CSD PhD-Professor of Hot Dogs

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by petespups

Hello
Can you tell me exactly what a Chicago dog consist of.
Thanks
Pete

Yellow mustard, chopped onion, green relish, catsup, tomato wedges, pickle spear, celery salt, sport peppers, on a Vienna Beef hotdog in a poppyseed bun.

http://www.viennabeef.com/culture/chicagostyle.asp

Ketchup???????????????????????????????????
Blasphemy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a '50's-style diner in Van Nuys, California called "Beeps" which serves Chicago hot dogs. And they ARE Vienna Beef hot dogs!

However, they split the hot dogs, grill them, and then apply whatever condiments strike them as Chicago-style.

Thankfully, there is a small chain of Chicago hot dog stands called "QT Chicago Dogs," and they are authentic! They'll even make you a "combo" sandwich (for those Chicago ex-pats who know what that is).

BurgerCzar,

If they grill them, it is not a Chicago Style Hot Dog, we only steam or boil Hot Dogs.