So I need to move to Chicago now.

[InverseHellion]

'Cause I just had a Chicago style hot dog and I'm in LOVE!!!! Why did noone tell me of the existance of this ambrosia sooner? Mmmm my mouth is watering even now thinking about them.

So who else has (even for a moment) wanted to move somewhere due to a regional food specialty? Anyone? Please tell me I'm not alone...

[Jester]

Well, I have considered the idea of living in Japan, as I rarely eat beef and love sushi and Japanese food in general.

And yes, I too love Chicago dogs. Since I hate ketchup, I am right in line with most Chicagoans--in Chicago, in many places, it is considered just about criminal to put ketchup on a dog.

God, I haven't had a good Chicago dog in a long time. And I am hungry right now. Thanks for torturing me so!

[flyinghi]

forgive my ignorance but what exactly is a Chicago-style hot dog? ( I hate ketchup too)

[ArcticChicken]

There are days I would cheerfully pack up and move to India for the food. Of course, my head would probably implode if I ate it as hot as they eat it there....

[Evil Queen]

I dunno what a chicago style Hot Dog is either.

I generally eat my dogs with just mustard. :shrug:

Now, southern BBQ sauce is killer. :D Particularly if it's REAL southern BBQ; meaning it's vinegar based rather then ketchup/tomatoe based.

If anyone gets the chance, stop by Dreamland BBQ in Alabama (there's I think, 4 in the entire state). I don't care what you order as long as you get some of their BBQ sauce. Best sauce EVER.

And I have a recipe for it. :p

[Jester]

forgive my ignorance but what exactly is a Chicago-style hot dog? ( I hate ketchup too)

Directly quoted from Wikipedia:

"A Chicago-style hot dog is a steamed or boiled all-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, which originated in the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with mustard, onion, sweet pickle relish (usually neon green), a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt; sometimes, but not always, cucumber slices; but never ketchup.[1][2][3][4] The complete assembly is sometimes called "dragged through the garden" because of the unique combination of condiments. It is taboo to put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog; some hot dog stands don't even stock the condiment."

Cucumbers and tomatos on hot dogs was a revelation to me, especially since I come from a New York family where the only things you put on hot dogs was mustard, onions, and/or sauerkraut.

If you've never had a Chicago dog, try to find a place in your area that serves them. Simply awesome.

Oh, wait a minute....what's this? I've just been handed a message from the Chicago Hot Dog Institute: "Fuck ketchup."

[Heksubah]

Oh, to move back from where I hail (St. Louis!) just to have daily servings of toasted ravioli, St. Louis style pizza and gooey butter cake. Mmmm.

forgive my ignorance but what exactly is a Chicago-style hot dog? ( I hate ketchup too)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago-style_hot_dog

[Evil Queen]

Ketchup belongs on fries. :p And only plain fries then. If it's seasoned fries, it's Ranch Dressing. :D

[AdminAssistant]

If it's seasoned fries, it's Ranch Dressing. :D

EWWWW.

As soon as I go home, Mom knows that somehow, somewhere, I GOTTA go to a fish place. There are a TON of them in my neck of the South, serving fried catfish, hush puppies (cornmeal rolled in a ball and deep fried), fries, coleslaw...and sometimes fried shrimp, crawdaddies, and other seafood. The REALLY good places have pickled tomatoes - which are divine. These are always small, family run, hole in the wall places.

Damn, I am so hungry now. :cry:

As to the hot dogs....if you're putting THAT much stuff on it, how do you taste the hot dog? I'd rather just have a little mustard and a little ketchup.

[InverseHellion]

Actually the flavours all combine to make this really harmonious whole. The dog's there but it's accented by everything else.

And french fries need ketchup and mayo, seasoned fries need vinegar and ketchup and onion rings also need vinegar and ketchup. Silly peoples.

[Jester]

...fried catfish...

I LOVE catfish. Though down here in the Keys, rare is the place that has it.
Question: have you ever tried catfish blackened? Simply yummy!

As to the hot dogs....if you're putting THAT much stuff on it, how do you taste the hot dog? I'd rather just have a little mustard and a little ketchup.

If done right, it is awesome. Question: have you ever tried one? If not, don't knock it and just dismiss it out of hand. Trust me, I was skeptical at first. But Chicago dogs rock. Hellion said it best:

Actually the flavours all combine to make this really harmonious whole. The dog's there but it's accented by everything else.

I couldn't agree more.

And french fries need ketchup and mayo, seasoned fries need vinegar and ketchup and onion rings also need vinegar and ketchup. Silly peoples.

Or disagree more. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. The last time I used ketchup voluntarily on anything was....good lord, I have no idea. The only thing I could think of using it for nowadays would be as a base for a sauce, and I haven't even done THAT.

You can have my ketchup. :lol:

[iradney]

Japan - for Sushi. I could eat my own body weight in nigiri and sashimi! Especially if it's salmon! *copious drool*
I joke around saying that I'm planning on moving to Canada just for Ben and Jerry's and Tim's coffee...and it might be true!

[daleduke17]

Kansas City or Texas for barbeque.

Beef brisket that just about falls apart when the fork touches it, either with a dry rub put on or slathered in some sort of sauce after the fact.

Damn I need to go back to Famous Dave's and get some brisket or ribs.


Almost 2am and I am hungry for BBQ. :(

[AdminAssistant]

I LOVE catfish. Though down here in the Keys, rare is the place that has it.
Question: have you ever tried catfish blackened? Simply yummy!

I haven't had it blackened, but I HAVE had grilled catfish, which is also yummy and considerably healthier.

One of our neighbors used to catch catfish in a nearby river (shallow, slow-moving, muddy, PERFECT for catfish). There are many pictures of me as a toddler standing up on a 5 gallon bucket next to a catfish he caught.....and the catfish is bigger!

[Jester]

I haven't had it blackened, but I HAVE had grilled catfish, which is also yummy and considerably healthier.

You should try it blackened. I personally don't like grilled fish, as I find that grilling it robs it of much of its natural moistness. Blackening it locks in the juices with a nice sear to the outside.

Now, blackened fish is spicy (the blackening spices being what they are), so if you don't like spicy, you can get the same effect without the spiciness by having the fish pan-seared. The method is the exact same as blackening, but without the blackening spices. Either way, you get a nice, lovely, juicy fish, rather than one that has been dried out unnecessarily by grilling. Added bonus is that the health benefit is the same as grilling, i.e., no unnecessary fat from frying oil.

[InverseHellion]

Mmm seared catfish... dammit I shouldn't have made this thread when all I have in my apartment is vegetables and mac'n'cheese. Ah well, seared paddy pan squash is just as good right? (No... no it's not.)

[daleduke17]

I can't wait until next year when all of the catfish frys start back up (there might be a few left this year as it's only August, but the ones I like have already happened).