Message Forum

Marv... Another way to save some money, after Jim mentioned the pizza in Lucca, Italy, is a short trip from your house to Lucca Grill for the best pizza in town. They came from Lucca, Italy, this the name of the bar. You'd save enough $$$ to buy pizza for all of us!

Jim... You can use ketchup on your hot dogs, but I wouldn't ask for it if in Chicago. Might want to bring your own packets along. I like yellow mustard on regular hot dogs and also chili dogs. I can skip the rest of that stuff.

07/28/20 06:04 PM

#8894

Mel...

One question... are you sure there's even a dog in there? Sorry, I couldn't eat it with all that stuff on it.

07/28/20 07:19 PM

#8895

Max, you are such a skeptic. Of course there is a hotdog in there. A true Chicago dog is made with a kosher beef Red Hot, one of the best on the market. It also has a kosher dill pickle. What you seem not to get, this is a meal on a bun. The traditional campfire hotdog is all the waste from animal part leftovers. (Sorry if I'm offending the vegetarians.) But, the Red Hot is actually quite nourishing when mixed with the toppings. The purists think the ketchup is a redundant and unnecessary addition to the tomato. As a tomato lover, I tend to agree with that thinking. Speaking of which, we are on the cusp of tomato season and I'm all ready for it.

Which brings me to another question similar to Jim's catsup vs. ketchup. Why is there an 'e' in potatoe and not in tomato?

Anybody out there growing their own tomatoes? Maybe OUR GARDENS would be a good theme for our posts, but let's wait until the harvest is in full bloom.

07/28/20 07:34 PM

#8896

I like a hot dog now and then. Mustard, sauerkraut, pickle relish. That is all. Oh maybe some onion.

there is no "e" in potato, Mel.

I don't have a food picture for Tasty Tuesday, but I like the idea. Would love a Midwestern tomato. We don't get them in Seattle, it there are good ones from central Washington at the Farmers' markets.

07/28/20 07:37 PM

#8897

Well, spoke too soon re food picture. This one was taken in Seoul, South Korea, at a big covered market and restaurant complex. All of theme items are delicious!

07/28/20 07:41 PM

#8898

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Mel... Wendy beat me to it. No e in potato. Plural of both include an e. Potatoes and tomatoes. Potatoe is a secondary spelling of the word but rarely used... except by Mel apparently.

07/28/20 07:54 PM

#8899

To quote Clint Eastwood in the movie "Sudden Impact" "nobody, but nobody puts ketcup on a hot dog!"

Well, I don't agree. I like ketcup on my hot dogs, unless it is a hot dog with cheese in it, then I use mustard. I also put onions and relish on it. I like coney dog sauce-in fact I bought an extra can from my chili mac to have on hot dogs later.

Mel, I thought exactly the same thing Max thought-"Where's the dog?" The bun did look good though.

And I don't spell Potato with an "e" either. So I guess you are out numbered, Mel. ha-ha

The last couple of years I've planted 2 tomato plants, but I didn't plant any this year. Ron and I used to grow a hugh garden in the back lot. We had everything! We even canned one year. Canning was fun. But, we ate the food all Winter and by the time Spring came I wasn't hungry for any of the garden things. So we didn't can again. Jim and I had a small garden in back, but only did that a couple of years. Got lazy, I guess. It's just too easy to go buy what you need and you don't have to spend hours hoeing and watering the garden.

07/28/20 08:27 PM

#8900

Just to throw another wrench in the gears... I prefer a Portillos hot dog to the Vienna Chicago Dog. I know it's not "authentic" but still like it better. Will probably get frowned upon for making the statement. Used to go to Portillos near Joliet when visiting friends down there because we didn't have one near but now there is one in Madison for the past year or so. Life is good! Of course I have to alternate it with their Italian beef sandwich which is also awesome... just ask Jack Habich. That's one of his birthday stops, or used to be. Haven't checked with him in awhile. (Maybe he'll read this and chime in.)

07/28/20 08:37 PM

#8901

I pretty much like any kind of sausage. Bratwurst, Vienna, you name it. Wisconsin is known for brats, right, Terry? How do you dress one on a bun?

07/28/20 09:04 PM

#8902

Wendy...

Yes, Wisconsin is known for their brats. They used to be pretty basic, the meat in a casing. Now they come in every flavor imaginable, and some not so imaginable. There is a local butcher shop here in Spring Green that comes up with all kinds of concoction. They make one with Skittles in them. I prefer not to try them but one of my sons had some at a cookout. I didn't hear any rave reviews on them. I like the basic one on a bun with yellow mustard. As discussed sometime back I'm a picky eater (and I think Sandy agreed with me that she is, also). A lot of people like sauerkraut and onions on them. That's probably the preferred way by most.

07/28/20 09:08 PM

#8903

OMG, I'm so embarrassed. No e in potato? Thank you Wendy, Max and Sandy. You have changed my life. Mrs. Warren would be so ashamed of me. I've struggled with this for years.

Who would have thought that today's theme would have centered around hotdogs? My favorite is one that is roasted on a stick over a camp fire. Ketchup or not. And Wendy, I'm with you all the way on sauerkraut. You guys are real connoisseurs.

Sandy, I would trade a Chicago hotdog any day for a chili cheese dog. Yummy. Too bad about the garden. There is nothing better than an August garden tomato.

07/28/20 09:18 PM

#8904

James (Jim) Rookus

Oh MAX .... just speaking about PORTILLOS almost causes me to hop in the car and drive 3 Hrs for a
BIGGY BEEF dipped in a aju ( they call gravy ) with an extra cup of aju on the side to dip before each bite, an order of crinkle fries and a large chocolate malt (double the malt) ... and please don't tell my cardiologist !!! Oh and about two dozen napkins to wipe my dripping chin after each bite! Whenever I know some one needing to fly somewhere out of O'Hara I offer to drive them to the airport just so I have an excuse to stop at a PORTILLOS for lunch! 😊😏😀😃💕💕💕PORTILLOS !!!!!!

07/28/20 09:44 PM

#8905

Jim... My drive used to be about the same, 3+ hours to Portillos, so I didn't get there very often. Now with the new one they built in Madison, I only have about 45 minutes. Still only go there if in Madison running errands.

Mel... With all of this hot dog banter back and forth, the only thing we accomplished was getting you to drop the 'e' on the end of potato! All in all, quite a feat. Just proves that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

07/28/20 10:16 PM

#8906

Max, from an old dog (not a hotdog),

For those Portillo's fan, I recommend Al's Roast Beef, the original home of the roast beef sandwich. But Portillo's is a worthy competitor. Going down to swim laps. More tomorrow. And just like there is no e in potato there is an ' in Portillo's. LOL

07/28/20 10:55 PM

#8907

Marvin Theobald

When I started this Tasty Tuesday thing and posted that hot dog menu pic I never imagined it would turn into a HOT DOG conversation frenzy.

Max - When I was in Lucca, Italy I was well aware that the original Lucca owners were from there. I took a Lucca Grill 75the Anniversary shirt with me. I stopped at an information center in Lucca showed them the shirt and told them about Lucca grill. They gave me two posters to take back for Lucca Grill. I carted them all over Italy and presented them to John and Tony, now the owners of Lucca Grill. They framed the posters and hung them in the main dining room downstairs.

Back to hot dogs and brats. I am strictly a yellow mustard and sweet pickle relish guy. Ketchup is better than nothing when it the only option but it isn't nearly as desirable. Regarding Chicago Style Red Hot, they are very good but I don't care for the meal on a bun approach. When it comes to Portillo's I rarely deviate from the Big Beef and they have a great chocolate shake. Portillo's opened in Normal two or three years ago and I don't go nearly as often as I should.

Wendy - Very interesting food selection in your photo. I encountered some very unusual street cuisine opportunities in Thailand but was never comfortable about risking testing them.

07/29/20 12:12 PM

#8908

For What It's Worth,

Here's a real Chicago Dog from Big & Little's - 860 N. Orleans St, Chicago, Il.

HOT DOG - 100% Beef Hot Dog, Chicago Style (Mustard, Relish, Onion, Sport Pepper, Pickle, Tomato & Celery Salt)

Or another favorite if you ever get there:

Foie Gras and Duck Fries!

If you have a few minutes to kill - check out the best dogs in Chicago put together by Bon Appetit

Enjoy your dogs, with or without Catsoup!

07/29/20 12:38 PM

#8909

Mel,

I'm here for you buddy - re: Spuds

A Taste for the Tuber

The German love of potatoes--enjoyed in salads, dumplings and pancakes--is rivaled only by the Irish. But it wasn't always so. In the mid-1700s, Frederick the Great of Prussia demanded that dubious peasants plant the curious kartoffel. Fondness followed, but gradually.

7. Lengenberg's Boiled Potatoes

Basic boiled potatoes dressed simply with parsley are the perfect complement to bratwurst with mustard or schnitzel.

07/29/20 01:28 PM

#8910

I know it's Wednesday, but thought I'd add to Tasty Tuesday - when we received these, it had a bad connotation.

We knew we would be out in boonies for more that an average patrol. Had the advantage of no cans banging together and announcing our presence and you just added water and could eat them cold after they were reconstituted so no telltale fumes from the heat tabs. Ymmm Ymmm! Oh, and NO Ham & Lima Beans!

07/29/20 02:54 PM

#8911

I love potatoes. We have a friend who lives in Idaho, and every year he send us 25 pounds of the best Idaho potatoes. One year the order got goofed up and we got a second box. 50 pounds of potatoes. We gave a lot away. I like them fried in duck fat. No French Fry shape, flat slices.

07/29/20 06:41 PM

#8912

Allida Frisch (Altemus)

Mel, Jim plants tomatoes every May and we have had tomatoes for over a month here in St. Louis. In fact we have been overwhelmed with them, both regular tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. In fact he has already done a lot of canning. Nothing like home grown tomatoes. Regarding hot dogs I only eat them with cheese and onions. The best hot dogs ever for me are the ones at Busch Stadium. Unfortunately will not get to experience them this year. Hopefully we will get to go to Cardinals baseball games next year. Am enjoying all the posts and pictures and seeing where everyone has travelled.

07/29/20 07:12 PM

#8913

Allida, so glad to hear about Jim's tomato fetish. It's no wonder we've been friends for almost 60 years. If all goes well, I'll get my supply next weekend. If not, I may show up on your doorstep.

Wendy, 50 lbs. of potatoes is amazing. They do store nicely. Just sayin'. I peel and boil them, add some butter, salt, pepper and parsely.

Max and Dave, today's Tribune had a timely article on Chicago Italian beef sandwiches and hands down rated Al's Roast Beef as the best. So, my car was in the auto hospital (garage) and when I picked it up this afternoon, I stocked up with 2 large Al's sandwiches dipped and with sweet peppers. That will be my dinner for the next few days. Loved the video on Chicago hotdogs.

On my way to swim. With any luck, I'll hit 35 miles tonight.

07/30/20 12:00 PM

#8914

07/30/20 01:15 PM

#8915