The Hot Dog as 'Perfect Recession Food'
WBEZ Chicago: "Turns out the Chicago dog has a good 'pedigree' for surviving tough times. The Chicago style hotdog, loaded with veggies and condiments, got started back during the late 1920s. You could get your meal on a bun for a nickel; at least one hotdog stand called it a 'depression sandwich.' And while it may be overselling it a little to say sales now are 'steaming' or 'red hot' these days at Weiner and Still Champion, they're good."
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5 Comments:
I've also heard they called them "tube steaks" during the depression, to try and make them sound a little more gourmet.
pcrackenhead at 7:42PM on 03/13/09
When my mom was on food stamps when I was a kid, we would have pan fried hot dogs, onions, and an egg to hold it together. It was one of my favorite meals!
Red Icculus at 9:32PM on 03/13/09
I remember hot dogs from Boz's on the South Side when I was a kid and my dad was unemployed. We'd each get two, and each dog was wrapped up with french fries. Mustard, pickle relish, sport peppers and celery salt for me please. I think they cost 99 cents each. One of the foods I miss from America.
NotAmerican at 3:34AM on 03/14/09
And in the spirit of NotAmerican's comment, I remember a weird little place in the Back of the Yards, where my aunt lived -- a woman who lived in bottom floor of an enormous corner house right across the street from the church would sell hot dogs and tamales out of her window.
Chicago dogs are one of the things I miss living in California. It's strange the things you remember.
maered at 4:19AM on 03/14/09
Back when my dad had custody and was unemployed, he'd buy me a hotdog from those sabrette street carts. That was dinner for one night a week or so. I'm glad I finally went to live with my mom, but i kinda miss those hotdogs.
Aynsl156 at 3:52PM on 03/14/09