I tend to break down food into two general categories: Grub and Gourmet. Obviously "Grub" is stuff where you look for value often in the form of quantity for a cheap price ("bang for the buck") and then "Gourmet" is where you're willing to pay extra $$$ for top-quality stuff that eschews money as an object.

Hot dogs are in the "Grub" category for me as any and all attempts at "gourmet hot dogs" tend to be akin to the "putting lipstick on a pig" analogy (although yes I do know sometimes you will encounter "some pig" and all that)

That said, I obviously have gene and Jude's atop the proverbial rankings, tho tbh I can't say they're really that distinguishable from similar fare @ Jimmy's Red Hots at Pulaski and Grand. If I actually want a hot dog those are the two places i'll go to, but it's a rare thing where i'll go way out of my way JUST to get a hot dog there (ergo its "location location location" aka "proximity" that tends to decide if i'm gonna go get hot dogs)

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I liked going to Demon Dogs before it became a CTA station. There is a book called Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog that documents all the historical Vienna Beef Hot Dog places. Portillo's is the champion by a mile. None of those other hot dog places could sell their business for a billion dollars. I do enjoy the Costco dog and drink for $1.50. Gene and Jude's is worth checking out. Somewhat overrated. Good fries though. Also Internet rumor said that no ketchup on a Hot Dog had to do with the ketchup people not cooperating with mob or organized labor. It's stupid to tell people what condiment to put on a Hot Dog. I do everything now plus ketchup minus peppers.

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God is the uncaused cause of the universe. He had no beginning and has no end. He is not bound by the laws of the universe he created.

Ketchup tastes like crap on a hot dog; that's why no one over the age of 7 puts ketchup on hot dogs.

Felony Franks on Western Ave had decent dogs.

Forgot about Odge's on Damen south of Chicago. Good fries and polish. Dogs were so-so.

do you think someday we're gonna have niche companies that only hire people who have been ostracized from the workforce by social justice? call it Bigoted Burgers or something?

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I love me a good chicago-style with everything.

But, in a pinch, when I have approximately 60 seconds to feed myself and the kids before the next game/practice/meeting/OMFG, if I can only throw one quick condiment on a microwaved hot dog.....it's ketchup.

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I put ketchup on brats. I do. I like it. I like it a lot.

My wife puts barbecue sauce on brats.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Mustard is the correct choice here.

Me too.

But the BBQ sauce has to be applied while the brats are still on the grill, and it has to be name brand-type brats direct from the package.

I would never put BBQ sauce on the style of brats made well ahead of time in some type of beer-mustard-etc concoction.

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My daughter does too.

But she's a kid, so........

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ketchup is akin to a blanket that you use to cover up stuff that you're not too big on the taste of. other condiments tend to accentuate the taste of the meat, ketchup kinda blankets it and makes it easier to go down (especially quickly)

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State of Illinois throws some extra cash a business's way if they hire recently released prisoners.

There's a half-way house / facility over by the United Center. GF managed a restaurant over that
way and used to hire a few of em for dishwashers/kitchen help. For some reason $3K per
parolee sticks in my mind. Seems excessive but I do recall it being financially a good deal for the business.

What?
Yellow? Brown? Dijon? Bavarian?

Too many choices, man. I gots ta go by that point. Ketchup is ketchup.

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Interesting.

I think most people would say mustard has a stronger flavor than ketchup.

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No matter how gourmet your mustard belt, always have a squeeze bottle of French's mild or:

btw i can't lie: ketchup and relish is what i go with on standard fare homemade hotdogs. i save the anything-but-ketchup-master-race stuff for when i go out and buy hotdogs from a restaurant/place/etc.



growing up i never really liked mustard that much, and if i get it on "everything but ketchup" hotdogs nowadays i'm OK with it because the onions/relish/peppers/etc drown it out. therefore you're prolly right, but my thoughts on ketchup come from it being the dominant condiment on my hot-dogs/burgers/etc growing up. bratwurst = sauerkraut or onions for me.... never really go out of my way to fuck with the mustard tbh (meaning that i never put it on things myself)

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There is a bit of a comfort food factor that I can't explain. It's terrible, I'm okay with that.



I know. I hate hate hate mustard. occasionally a maranaide of dijon or stone ground n chicken or pork is okay but I hate hate hate mustard.

you might like this srichachi topper, it's like a spicy sriracha relish:

http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpres ... 1132015-2/

I've resorted to the horseradish sandwich sauce a few times. changes the hot dog experience too much.

Ate at Papaya Dog while in new york. didn't try the gross looking "red onion sauce'. but they all offer sauerkraut standard on any hot dog, if you like. so mustard and kraut on a grilled papaya dog. delicious.

No pickles. Tartar sauce and fried pickles, sometimes in potato salad is good but never relish. I Love horseradish but not hotdogs.

so mustard and kraut on a grilled papaya dog. delicious....worst thing ever. I don't like mustard or kraut or papaya or hot dogs. I'd starve in NY!!!!

Sriracha
Horseradish
Crystal

All 3 of these pretty much make every single food item better.

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this is what your standard new york hot dog stand offers.
the big pan in the middle that looks like soupy chili is actually something called "red onion sauce".
I've no idea what "red onion sauce" is but every hot dog vendor seemed to think it's what you wanted
on your hot dog. fuck that.

they have a smaller pan of chili up front by the nacho cheese.
kraut and mustard dog below. cheap dogs. almost costco cheap. 2 dogs and fries for $5.

crystal?

Sriracha is overrated.

ick.

Keep it.



Give me Chicago style. With everything.
And yes, hot dog stand cashier, when I say "everything" I mean the sport peps too. I don't need you to waste the 3 extra words to ask me the additional question.

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Yeah. Crystal. Weirdo.



Sriracha is fantastic. On many things.

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yeah, I like Chicago style dogs with a salad on top much better. but the kraut and mustard make for a nice change in flavor. really good dogs tho.

lately i've been making a chopped raw onion/tomato relish/hot dog topping that i heap on top of 2 dogs in chicago style buns with a double stripe of mustard on each dog, topped off with hot banana peppers. pickle on the side. good summer dogs. by the end, i have mustard, onions, tomatoes and peppers and hot dog bun seeds all over the plate, soaking it all up with bun bits, down to the last bite.

Insanely underrated topping.

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I thought you meant Louis Roederer cristal champagne. LOL.

Ick. they are overwhelming or underwhelming. Stupid banana peppers.