Sunday, February 15, 2009

History and Ingredients of Chicago Hot Dog



The "Chicago Style" hot dog got its start from street cart hot dog vendors during the hard times of the Great Depression. Money was scarce, but business was booming for these entrepreneurs who offered a delicious hot meal on a bun for only a nickel. The famous Chicago Style Hot Dog was born! They'd start with a Vienna Beef hot dog, nestle it in a steamed poppyseed bun and cover it with a wonderful combination of toppings: yellow mustard, bright green relish, fresh chopped onions, juicy red tomato wedges, a kosher-style pickle spear, a couple of spicy sport peppers and finally, a dash of celery salt. This unique hot dog creation with a "salad on top" and its memorable interplay of hot and cold, crisp and soft, sharp and smooth, became America's original fast food and a true Chicago institution.

A true Chicago style dog contains distinct ingredients and is dressed in a very specific order. Depending on who you ask, the hot dog wieners can be boiled, steamed, or grilled, but one thing seems to be agreed upon almost universally - do not put ketchup on it. Ever.

Ingredients:

100% beef hot dogs
Poppy seed bun
Yellow mustard
Sweet relish (of the neon green variety)
Freshly chopped onions
Dill pickle slice / spear
Tomato slices
Sport peppers
Dash of celery salt

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Chicago Restaurant Week 2009



Embrace Your Inner Foodie

During Chicago Restaurant Week 2009!

Tables are set at over 130 tantalizing eateries throughout the city for the 2nd Annual Chicago Restaurant Week. From February 20-27, food lovers will enjoy amazing opportunities to revisit their favorite spots – or sample some they've always wanted to try – for just $22 for 3-course prix-fixe lunches and $32 for 3-course prix-fixe dinners (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity).

Restaurants may offer lunch or dinner, or both, as a participant in Chicago Restaurant Week. American Express® Cardmembers may make early reservations through January 25, 2009.

Whatever your taste – spicy sizzle, scrumptious seafood, or 5-star sophistication - you're sure to find plenty to savor during Chicago Restaurant Week. Just visit our list of participating restaurants to make your choices by restaurant name, neighborhood, or type of cuisine. Then get ready to eat it up, Chicago!


Search for a participating restaurant:


Ai Japanese Restaurant & Lounge
358 W. Ontario Japanese
Aigre Doux
230 W. Kinzie St. American
Ajasteak
660 North State Japanese
Alhambra Palace
1240 W. Randolph Mediterranean
Andiamo
10000 Bessie Coleman Drive Inside the Hilton Italian
aria
200 N. Columbus Drive American
Atwater's
15 South River Lane Geneva IL, 60134 American
Atwood Cafe
One West Washington Street American
Ballo, A Rosebud Restaurant
445 North Dearborn Italian
Ben Pao
52 W. Illinois Chinese
Benihana - Schaumburg
1200 E. Higgins Road Schaumburg IL, 60173 Japanese
Berghoff Restaurant
17 W. Adams St. American
Bistro 110
110 East Pearson Street French
bluprint restaurant & lounge
222 Merchandise Mart Plz # 135 American
Brasserie Jo
59 W. Hubbard French
Brazzaz The Brazilian Steakhouse
539 North Dearborn Brazilian
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
700 E. Grand Ave American
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba
2024 N. Halsted Spanish
Cafe des Architectes
20 East Chestnut Street French
Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave. Italian
Caliterra Restaurant
633 N. St. Clair Italian
Cape Cod Room
140 E. Walton Pl. Seafood
Carmine's
1043 N. Rush St. Italian
Carnivale
702 W Fulton St Latin
Carson's BBQ Ribs, Steaks & Chops
612 N. Wells American
Chez Colette
5550 North River Road Rosemont IL, 60018 French
Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, The
1401 S. Michigan Ave. American
China Grill
230 North Michigan Ave Fusion
C-House
166 E. Superior Street American
Coco Pazzo
300 W. Hubbard Italian
Coco Pazzo Cafe
636 N. St. Clair Italian
Crofton on Wells
535 N. Wells St. American
David Burke's Primehouse
616 N. Rush Street Steak & Beef
Devon Seafood Grill
39 E. Seafood
Dine Restaurant
733 W. Madison Ave. American
Drawing Room at Le Passage
937 North Rush St American
Ed Debevic's
640 N. Wells St. American
English
444 N. LaSalle St. Gastro Tavern
Farmerie 58
58 E. Ontario American
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
25 E. Ohio Street Steak & Beef
Fox & Obel Market, Cafe & Catering
401 East Illinois American
Frontera Grill and Topolobampo
445 North Clark Street Mexican
Fulton's on the River
315 N. LaSalle Street American
The Gage Chicago
24 S. Michigan Ave. Gastro Tavern
Geja's Cafe
340 W. Armitage Ave. Continental
Grace O'Malley's Restaurant
1416 S. Michigan Ave. Irish
Grill on the Alley
909 North Michigan Ave American
Hard Rock Cafe
63 W. Ontario American
Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
33 West Kinzie Street Steak & Beef
Harvest Grill
540 N. Michigan Ave. American
House of Blues Back Porch Restaurant
329 North Dearborn Cajun
Hugo's Frog Bar
1024 N. Rush St. Seafood
Indian Garden Restaurant
247 E. Ontario Street #2 Indian
Jack Binion's Steakhouse
777 Casino Center Drive Hammond IN, 46320 Steak & Beef
Japonais
600 W. Chicacgo Ave. Japanese
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab
60 E. Grand Seafood
Kamehachi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
240 East Ontario Japanese
Kamehachi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar (Wells)
1400 North Wells Japanese
Keefer's Restaurant
20 W. Kinzie Seafood
Klay Oven
414 N. Orleans Indian
La Cantina Grill
1911 S. Michigan Avenue Mexican
La Cantina Italian Chophouse
71 W. Monroe Italian
La Madia
59 W. Grand Ave. Italian
La Sardine
111 N. Carpenter French
La Trattoria Del Merlo
1967 N. Halsted St. Italian
Lawry's The Prime Rib
100 East Ontario Steak & Beef
LB Bistro & Patisserie
301 E. North Water St., Lvl. 2 French
Le Colonial Restaurant
937 N. Rush Street Vietnamese
The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago
108 E. Superior Breakfast / Brunch
Lockwood Restaurant & Bar
17 E. Monroe Street American
Luxbar
18 E. Bellevue Pl. American
M Avenue Restaurant
701 N. Michigan Ave. American
Maggiano's Little Italy
516 N. Clark Street Italian
Martini Park
640 N. LaSalle Drive American
McCormick and Schmick's Fresh Seafood Restaurant
1 E. Wacker Dr. Seafood
McCormick and Schmick's Fresh Seafood Restaurant - Chestnut
41 E. Chestnut St. Seafood
Melting Pot
609 N. Dearborn American
Merlo on Maple
16 W. Maple Italian
Merlo Ristorante
2638 N. Lincoln Avenue Italian
Metropolitan Club, The
Sears Tower - 67th Floor - 233 S. Wacker Dr American
Mexx Kitchen at the Whiskey
1015 North Rush Street Mexican
Morton's The Steakhouse
65 East Wacker Place Steak & Beef
N9NE Steakhouse
440 W. Randolph Steak & Beef
Naha
500 North Clark Street American
Nick's Fishmarket
51 S. Clark St. Seafood
NoMI
800 N. Michigan Ave., 7th Fl. Eclectic
one sixtyblue
1400 West Randolph American
Original Gino's East, The
633 N. Wells St. Pizza
Osteria Via Stato
620 N. State Street Italian
Palm, The
323 E. Wacker Drive Steak & Beef
Pane Caldo
72 E Walton St Italian
Park 52 Restaurant
5201 S. Harper Ave. American
Park Grill
11 N. Michigan Ave. American
Parrot Cage Restaurant
7059 S. South Shore Drive American
Petterino's
150 N. Dearborn American
Phil Stefani's 437 Rush
437 N Rush St Italian
Piccolo Sogno Restaurant
464 N. Halsted St. Italian
Prosecco
710 N. Wells Italian
Pump Room
1301 N. State Parkway Euro
Quartino Ristorante
626 N. State St. Italian
Restaurant at Conrad, The
521 N. Rush @ Michigan Avenue American
Rhapsody
65 E. Adams American
Ristorante We
172 W. Adams Italian
Riva
700 East Grand Avenue Seafood
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
One West Grand American
Rockit Bar & Grill
22 W. Hubbard Street American
Rosebud on Rush
720 N. Rush Italian
Rosebud Prime
One S. Dearborn Steak & Beef
Rosebud Steakhouse
192 E. Walton Steak & Beef
Rosebud Theater District
70 W. Madison Italian
Rosebud, The
1500 W. Taylor Italian
Roy's Chicago
720 N. State Street Fusion
Ruth's Chris Steak House
431 North Dearborn Steak & Beef
Saloon Steakhouse, The
200 E. Chestnut Street Steak & Beef
Seasons Restaurant
120 E. Delaware Place American
Shor
2233 S Martin Luther King Dr American
Shula's Steak House
301 East N. Water Street Steak & Beef
Smith & Wollensky
318 North State Street Steak & Beef
South Water Kitchen
225 N. Wabash Avenue American
Sullivan's Steakhouse
415 North Dearborn Steak & Beef
Sushi Samba Rio
504 N. Wells Japanese
Tavern at the Park
130 East Randolph St American
Texas De Brazil - Downtown Chicago
51 East Ohio Brazilian
Tizi Melloul
531 N. Wells Mediterranean
Topolobampo
445 N. Clark St. Mexican
Triad Sushi Lounge
1933 S. Indiana Ave. Japanese
Tuscany on Taylor
1014 W. Taylor Street Italian
Viand Bar & Kitchen
155 East Ontario American
Walnut Room, The
111 N. State St., 7th Fl. American
Wave
644 N. Lake Shore Drive Mediterranean
Wildfire Chicago
159 W. Erie American
Zapatista
1307 S. Wabash Ave. Mexican
Zest Restaurant
505 North Michigan Avenue American