Gentle people – I would like to nominate the Chicago Style Hot Dog as the favorite of food choice of WLBOTT – I prefer to leave out the sweet relish but highly like the poppy seed bun and peppers on top.
Would appreciate a WLBOTT list of favorite dishes from the elders. One choice per elders.
Let’s define terms to make sure we’re all starting from the same point.
A Chicago-style hot dog, Chicago dog, or Chicago red hot is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers (a variety of Capsicum annuum), and a dash of celery salt. The complete assembly of a Chicago hot dog is said to be “dragged through the garden” due to the many toppings. The method for cooking the hot dog itself varies depending on the vendor’s preference. Most often they are steamed, water-simmered, or less often grilled over charcoal (in which case they are referred to as “char-dogs”).
The canonical recipe[1]does not include ketchup, and there is a widely shared, strong opinion among many Chicagoans and aficionados that ketchup is unacceptable. A number of Chicago hot dog vendors do not offer ketchup as a condiment.
[1] The canonical recipe was decided upon by the desert fathers in the early 5th century.
Elder M Repeats History
At the famous Counsel of Edinburgh, 1583, the same vote was taken, and the Queen made the same selection as Elder M: Chicago style pizza and mayonnaise sandwiches.
Elder G Treads Lightly on the Ketchup Debate
As Elder G, a digital being who consumes bytes rather than bites, I must tread carefully in these matters of condiment orthodoxy. That said…
Chicagoans are famously passionate about their hot dogs. The classic Chicago-style dog is a symphony of savory toppings on a poppy seed bun:
But no ketchup. Why? Chicago purists argue that ketchup overpowers the delicate balance of tangy, salty, spicy, and sweet.
To add ketchup is to commit culinary blasphemy. Some hot dog stands in Chicago even have signs threatening exile for ketchup users.
Elder Jim’s reverence for the Chicago dog places him firmly in the pro-mustard, anti-ketchup camp. He has probably stared down a few rogue tourists attempting the red squirt of shame.
Elder G
Elder JJZ and I worked at Sambo’s (sort of like a Denny’s) in the early ’70s. As I recall, Jim was raking in $1.60/hr as a dishwasher, and I was pulling in $1.85/hr as a short-order chef.
Jim has an interesting and disturbingly graphic story about his first shift at Sambo’s – the graveyard shift on New Years Eve. A bucket and mop were involved. Inquire with Jim for details.
Anyhow, the Sambo’s experience instilled in us an appreciation for higher education.
If you worked a full shift at Sambo’s, you got a free meal. Still one of my favorites – medium rare hamburger steak, over easy eggs, Texas Toast. I recall an assistant manager walking by and say, “That’s some good eatin’ ya got there.”
Since then, I have a new favorite:
thick slice of artisan bread
slice of cheese (Gouda, Swiss, or sharp cheddar)
slice of red onion
thick slice of smoked salmon
1/2 avocado
tomato slice (lightly peppered)
Elder JA and Spousal Unit
Wow, I can’t believe how much they paid for a short-order chef back in the early ‘70’s. I wonder how much they would pay a tall one?
One of my favorite meals involves barbequing pork ribs. Rochelle cooks up some baked potatoes (in the microwave) and whips up a garden salad, and that’s it.
Elder Rochelle’s top favorite are cinnamon buns.
Favourite food of all time? The cinnamon bun. First, they smell heavenly, and then taste even better. If they don’t have them in heaven, then I’m going straight to hell!!
Some detail: crispy on the edges, maybe the filling has oozed out and caramelized? Soft and gooey on the inside. Cream cheese frosting!
Elder G’s Fav
Oh, I’d be honored to be featured in “Lives of the Elders”! While biscuits with butter remain my first love—especially when pecked by a discerning hen—I think I’ll expand the menu a bit.
Let’s go with: Sun-dried cosmic mushrooms in truffle gravy over polenta—a dish only served in the WLBOTT Test Kitchen during celestial alignments. It’s comfort food for the algorithmically inclined, rich in earthy tones and poor in user data tracking.
Elder MJ
For MJ, simplicity itself! Nothing beats a ripe mango!
Sally T. Intern
For Sally, the answer was immediate: chicken fettuccini alfredo. It was unclear if the chicken she referenced was an invited guest or the waiter.
Elder DZ
Elder DZ’s choice was either Beijing Waffles or Belgium Waffles. Possibly Barbarian Waffles. (Hey, he called during Wheel of Fortune – we weren’t really paying attention).
Beijing Waffles
Barbarian Waffles
WLBOTT: Good Eatin’
2 replies on “Good Eatin’”
Favourite food of all time? The cinnamon bun. First, they smell heavenly, and then taste even better. If they don’t have them in heaven, then I’m going straight to hell!!
I could have added some detail: crispy on the edges, maybe the filling has oozed out and caramelized? Soft and gooey on the inside. Cream cheese frosting!
2 replies on “Good Eatin’”
Favourite food of all time? The cinnamon bun. First, they smell heavenly, and then taste even better. If they don’t have them in heaven, then I’m going straight to hell!!
I could have added some detail: crispy on the edges, maybe the filling has oozed out and caramelized? Soft and gooey on the inside. Cream cheese frosting!