Duluth, MN – Fitger’s Brewhouse and Grill

The Fitger’s Brewing Company of Duluth, Minnesota, operated continuously from 1881 to 1972, making it Duluth’s oldest continuously operating business.   Through astute business acumen, Fitger’s was one of the few breweries in the country that operated through the entire period of prohibition, manufacturing soft drinks, candy, and other products. Times change, and owners did too.… Continue reading Duluth, MN – Fitger’s Brewhouse and Grill

Algonquin, IL – Fradillio’s

Fradillio’s is another locally owned “hot dog centric” food establishment in the far northwestern ‘burbs of Chicago.  Featuring the best in local suppliers, Fradillio’s offers hot dogs and polish sausage from Vienna Beef, and Italian Beef from local favorite supplier Devanco. I went with a bacon cheeseburger, cooked on the charbroiler, with a great bun,… Continue reading Algonquin, IL – Fradillio’s

Home Cookin’ – Changing Things Up Pizza

As you know, I make a lot of pizza at home, and generally start with dough I make myself, but these days, you can buy dough balls at most groceries that are pretty adequate.  For other types of crusts, try Boboli.  (My dough recipe here). So this is all about my Reuben pizza.  Start with… Continue reading Home Cookin’ – Changing Things Up Pizza

Small Town America – Fest Food

Few things I appreciate more than some family out slinging ‘hash’ at small town festivals, county fairs, and the like.  Today’s occasion was a ginormous flea market in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, held several times over the course of the summer. (dates).  Reminded me of one Mrs. Burgerdogboy and I stopped at in Central Washington a couple… Continue reading Small Town America – Fest Food

Oscar Meyer Selects Angus Smoked Uncured Beef Franks

Whoa, that’s a long name.  Saw these the other day for the first time, when I was in the hunt for my usual brands, premium casing dogs like Usingers or Vienna Beef. These were $3.99, for a 14 oz, 8 frank package;  they are bun length, and a bit redder in color than most grocery… Continue reading Oscar Meyer Selects Angus Smoked Uncured Beef Franks

Duluth, MN – Sammy’s Pizza (Downtown)

Not much more I can say about Sammy’s, the small regional chain in the Upper Midwest, I’ve written about them a couple times.   Here’s the point:  I’ve had pizza all over the world, from Naples, Florida, to Naples, Italy;  from Boise to Beijing.  And Sammy’s is still my favorite, and worth a couple day drive… Continue reading Duluth, MN – Sammy’s Pizza (Downtown)

Home Cookin’ Test – Extra Value Frozen Beef Patties

I’ve  reviewed a lot of these frozen patties, and to date, I’ve liked Ball Park brand the most, even though they are a ‘heat and eat’ product, not a raw patty. Extra Value is an economy brand, manufactured by the Holten Meat Company, outside of St. Louis. I bought a package of a dozen quarter… Continue reading Home Cookin’ Test – Extra Value Frozen Beef Patties

Nationwide – The Fresh Market

Nice to pop into one of these recently in suburban Chicago.  I had no idea the company had sprouted so many locations in the past few years. I first became acquainted with the chain in New Orleans, Mrs. Burgerdogboy and I were having kind of a funky / downlow Thanksgiving, and we wandered into the… Continue reading Nationwide – The Fresh Market