Add up all the major fast food joints and know that there are more hot dog stands in Chicago than the fast food numbers combined. Many of them are called “iconic” for one reason or another – longevity, special menu. One such icon, “Hot Dougs” closed last week after a mere 13 years in business.… Continue reading Chicago’s Hot Dougs Final Hours
Category: Hot off the Grill
Featured Stories of the Week
Meeskes / Haybeck’s, Chicago Butchers
Sometimes I wish there was an illustrated dictionary of food. There would be a photo, a list of ingredients, and a description of how the product is supposed to taste and what the texture should be. If there was, beside the entry for “Italian Sausage” would be the hand-stuffed sausages at Meeske’s and Haybeck’s butcher… Continue reading Meeskes / Haybeck’s, Chicago Butchers
Butterball Turkey Reviews
A registered trademark since 1940, “Butterball” came into wide use in the 60s by Swift & Company and the brand was eventually spun to ConAgra. Today the line of fresh and frozen turkeys and a host of turkey derived products is owned by Kansas based Seaboard Corporation, a diversified multinational, that also operates other food… Continue reading Butterball Turkey Reviews
Chicago, IL – Franks Chicago Shrimp House
When you think of “Chicago food,” most likely deep dish pizza and hot dogs come to mind; but a ‘native dish’ in Chicago is fried shrimp, and you’ll find local chains competing for the best recipes and reviews. The oldest, and arguably the best, is Frank’s Chicago Shrimp House, with four locations. I lived in… Continue reading Chicago, IL – Franks Chicago Shrimp House
Steak Tartare with a Side of Adultery
I love steak tartare. I like the ingredients and ritual of them gobbling it together table side for you. Hard to find in the U.S. anymore, except at the occasional French bistro and I have scored it at the Pacific Northwest mini chain upmarket steakhouse, El Gaucho. My favorite place in the world to get… Continue reading Steak Tartare with a Side of Adultery
Athens, OH – O’Betty’s Red Hot Review
Dogs and Dames By Oddzar Easeright Twitter O’Betty’s Red Hot 15 W. State St., Athens, OH 740-589-6111 Nothing goes together quite like hot dogs and burlesque dancers, don’t you think? At O’Betty’s Red Hot in Athens, Ohio, owner Bob Satmary has combined his two passions into a one-of-a-kind melding of hot dogs and hot women… Continue reading Athens, OH – O’Betty’s Red Hot Review
Frozen Edwardos Natural Pizza Review
The relative new kid on the block in Chicago pizzerias, Edwardos has been cooking up their special ‘stuffed’ pizzas since 1978 from multiple locations in the Chicago area. They are also available in the frozen food section at your grocery, or you can have them shipped. Despite the massive publicity Chicago pizza received courtesy of… Continue reading Frozen Edwardos Natural Pizza Review
Cuban Pork Roast Recipe
I had this girlfriend from Barcelona who had many charms and talents, not the least of which was in the kitchen. On occasion, she would make me a traditional dish, which I have long forgotten the name of – it was cubed chunks of porks heavily encrusted with herbs. It was delicious, especially served… Continue reading Cuban Pork Roast Recipe
Chicago’s Iconic Sandwich – The Italian Beef
Like most locally-specific foods around the US, whether it’s the first coney island style hot dog, or the first pizzeria in America, the origins of Chicago’s iconic sandwich – the Italian Beef – are difficult to sort out. One story has it that Italian immigrant workers in Chicago’s stockyards brought home tougher cuts of meat,… Continue reading Chicago’s Iconic Sandwich – The Italian Beef
Pizza Knot Recipe, Tailgating Favorite
PIZZA KNOTS FOR TAILGATING PARTIES I got a crazy itch this past weekend to try and make garlic knots for the first time. But I didn’t really feel like spending all weekend at it – when I usually make scratch bread or pizza dough, it’s a two day process. So I went with the old reliable… Continue reading Pizza Knot Recipe, Tailgating Favorite