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Standing Room Only: Susie's Drive Thru
You forgot to mention that you can get any meat you want on the cheese friends. I'm a big fan of polish sausage and onions or gyros cheese fries.
Standing Room Only: La Esquina Del Sabor
Oh man I have such a weakness for jibaritos. Borinquen on California has a great jibarito, but this one looks awesome. And that deep fried pork, I AM SO GLAD I'M MOVING BACK TO THE CITY.
Meeting Barack Obama’s Nemesis: The Dixie Kitchen/Calypso Café Johnnycake
Ha, Benitowine, I'm the exact opposite. I can't stand nonsweet Southern cornbread. I always top mine with butter and honey if it's Southern.
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Chewing the Fat: Batali and Bourdain on Fatherhood
Posted by Ed Levine, December 18, 2008 at 8:30 AM
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Hot Dog of the Week: Chicago Dog
As a Chicago native, I've never heard ANYONE order any hot dog EVER and use the phrase "dragged through the garden". Where the hell did that even come from? No one local says that!
Standing Room Only: Susie's Drive Thru
You forgot to mention that you can get any meat you want on the cheese friends. I'm a big fan of polish sausage and onions or gyros cheese fries.
Standing Room Only: La Esquina Del Sabor
Oh man I have such a weakness for jibaritos. Borinquen on California has a great jibarito, but this one looks awesome. And that deep fried pork, I AM SO GLAD I'M MOVING BACK TO THE CITY.
Meeting Barack Obama’s Nemesis: The Dixie Kitchen/Calypso Café Johnnycake
Ha, Benitowine, I'm the exact opposite. I can't stand nonsweet Southern cornbread. I always top mine with butter and honey if it's Southern.
Would You Go to a Chain Restaurant on a First Date?
My husband loves food now, but when we first started dating he was very inexperienced when it came to food. Our first date was at a Thai restaurant that I picked, but if he had suggested a chain, I wouldn't have been offended knowing his background. Luckily for me, he discovered that he loves trying new foods and eats everything with me! You shouldn't shun someone for liking chain restaurants, you should see if you can get them to eat what you eat. If they refuse to eat anything except for cheeseburgers, that's the real problem.
Standing Room Only: Jimmy's Red Hots in Chicago
So what came first, Gene & Jude's or Jimmy's?
Cook the Book: 'Endangered Recipes' by Lari Robling
My beloved great grandmother wasn't much of a cook, even for a cuddly, grey-haired grandmother, but I would give anything to eat her food now. My favorite memory of her cooking is actually a mish mash of many mornings, all spent the same way. I would spend weekends with her and wake up early, excited to help out with breakfast. She made two staples: Eggs, bacon, and toast, or french toast. If she made eggs, it was my job to toast and butter all the bread. She liked her bacon soft, unlike me, so she would make all the bacon soft, almost raw, and then I would have to eat it. HA! Maybe not my favorite thing to eat, but the memory makes me laugh. My absolute favorite, however, was her french toast. It was just Wonder Bread, but it was so delicious. She used whole milk, cream, eggs, vanilla, and lots of sugar in the batter. I used to smother grape jelly on the slices and I swear I could go through half a loaf of bread. I've had french toast all over, but I've never had french toast that was as good as hers. I miss eating breakfast with her in her yellow kitchen with violets on the windowsills, and I'm sad that my daughter will never experience it.
Favorite Chicago Foods?
Get a jibarito. you can only get those in Chicago. Borinquen on California was a favorite for jibaritos before we moved away. Oh, and get a pizza puff too. :)
Things I Ate in Milwaukee
Isn't Milwaukee style pizza similar to Chicago thin crust? It's basically the same, right? I'm just curious.
My McDonald's Shamrock Shake Journey: An Emotional Roller Coaster
They have them all over Chicago, but I don't think they exist in Atlanta. I think they're gross, but my husband loves them.
Van Halen Tour Rider: Absolutely No Brown M&Ms
Everyone needs a large tube of KY Jelly.
McDonald's Cheeseburger vs. McDouble vs. Double Cheeseburger
Makes me want a motherfuckin' McDonald's cheeseburger. Pregnancy cravings are the BEST/WORST.
Chicagoland's Best Bagel Found at Lincolnwood's New York Bagel & Bialy
All I can say is "no sh!t". My family always has and always get their bagels and bialys from New York Bagel & Bialy. :) The best in the world!
In Videos: Susan Powter Eats a Pear
Wow she looks amazing for being approximately 100 years old.
Would Chipotle Ever Sell a Breakfast Burrito?
I make my own breakfast tacos with fresh tortillas (I keep the masa dough ball already mixed in the fridge for quick and easy pressing). I don't think Chipotle could compare, fast food eggs are always kinda weird.
Gourmet White Castle Hamburger Stuffing Is Just a Bad Idea
I actually made a 6 or 7 course White Castle recipe book meal. It was what nightmares are made of, I'm sure of this. The stuffing was the least offensive out of all the rest of what we made. White Castle mincemeat pie? HORROR.
Blood For Breakfast? Fear Not!
I've wanted to try this for a long time! I saw a British store around here the other day, I have to check it out!
In Defense of Breakfast: A Morning Manifesto
I'm a big fan of breakfast. On weekdays I either have eggs and toast or pumpkin oatmeal and on weekends I prefer to pig out on something more unhealthy like eggs florentine or stratta. I get very grumpy when I'm stuck with nothing but oatmeal on a Saturday!
In Colorado State Senate Election, Bacon Trounces Fries
I couldn't deal with no fries for the rest of my life. I'm sorry bacon, you'd have to go. :(
It's the deep fried goodness that gets to me.
How Old Is Too Old To Trick-or-Treat?
I last trick or treated for myself when I was 15. I knew I was too old for it and I didn't give a damn, I was at a party and we all decided it would be a brilliant idea to run around the neighborhood for one last hurrah. We got denied at a few homes for being too old though, heh.
Honestly, after 8th grade you're too old. If you really want to trick or treat, take your younger siblings out or something (that's what I did!).
Delisi's Pizzeria & Bar: A Fully Restored Neighborhood Institution
Chicago is a huge pizza city, with its own style that you can't find elsewhere. All east coast pizzas from the areas you've mentioned are by and large about the same as a NYC pizza. What's the fun in only including reviews from the same types of places over and over? Also, if you care so much about pizza that you need to repeatedly bash Chicago reviews, you seriously need a new hobby.
Chicago's Proposed Ice Cream Truck Ban
I really wouldn't be surprised if they were using ice cream trucks to sell drugs in that area. I don't think banning them is going to end the sale of drugs though, that's a little ridiculous.
Types of Pizza-Crust Eaters
I always eat the crust. I think my mother would have slapped me if I didn't!
Photo of the Day: Chicken Feet
I like them, but I have no one to share them with and I don't like ordering a whole plate of them at dim sum just for myself.
McDonald's Cheeseburger vs. McDouble vs. Double Cheeseburger
I know folks who prefer the cheeseburger because it tastes better than the double cheeseburger.
I have to say the McDouble works for me because the one slice of cheese allows for the meat flavor to come through more than on the double cheeseburger.
I know this is off the subject, but the new Angus Mushroom & Swiss is good!
McDonald's Cheeseburger vs. McDouble vs. Double Cheeseburger
Hilarious.
I just happen to be eating a McD's Cheeseburger right now! I missed lunch and had the hubby bring me one, well actually two, to work.
Tastes pretty good when you're really hungry!
McDonald's Cheeseburger vs. McDouble vs. Double Cheeseburger
I want to know why the double cheeseburger was cheaper than the cheeseburger for a while. does anyone remember that? one was $1 and the other $1.29
Do You Put Ranch Dressing on Pizza?
How do you get a white trash girl to suck your d**k?
Dip it in ranch dressing.
Hot Dog of the Week: Chicago Dog
just added prints of the above Chicago Hot Dog art on my website! check it-
Hot Dog of the Week: Chicago Dog
@Majorlance-
wow, missed that. did it close recently?
@tinytim-
we covered Gene & Jude's in the "Depression Dog" article a few weeks ago-
http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/08/hot-dog-of-the-week-depression-dog-chicago-illinois.html
@pavlov-
I dunno the use of celery salt on Chicago Dogs might go back to the 30's.
Thing about hot dog history is that there's not a lot of hard facts or information on record- it's a mix of marketing, folklore, and family memories, that a lot of people don't necessarily think is important to preserve.
The mystery is part of the fun of uncovering the origins & evolution of hot dog styles, but I don't think narrowing down the "best" or the "first" is really that important..what's clear is that influences have crossed the country and even continents back and forth in various directions, and almost every hot dog variation adds a piece to the ever-changing puzzle.
Hot Dog of the Week: Chicago Dog
I'm going to call B.S. on the celery salt use in New England being a result of the chicago influence. "They sprinkle celery salt on the dogs at Flo's in Maine..."
Growing up in Northern New England, at most any roadside hot dog stand you could always find celery salt as one of the condiments. That's going back something close to 40 yrs.
Hot Dog of the Week: Chicago Dog
It might not be considered the absolute best but Superdawg is definitely one of the most famous. The Hungry Traveler has visited Superdawg before.
Hot Dog of the Week: Chicago Dog
The only words anyone ever says when ordering: "Wit" or "Widout" (the sport peppers).
Do You Put Ranch Dressing on Pizza?
I don't put ranch on anything! Gross tasting stuff.
Do You Put Ranch Dressing on Pizza?
Amen "omnomnom"! (I'm from Mich, too. Same area)
Do You Put Ranch Dressing on Pizza?
I absolutely love ranch on my pizza. Granted, I am a middle-school student (though homeschooled), and got the idea from my (middle school, homeschooled) friends after we started dipping French-Fries in Ranch (that's justified in Mich--here most of the fries are way too greasy or way too dry). We decided to try it on our pizza--and it's great. Only Hidden Valley (tm) works though. Deep dish pizza doesn't need it, fortunately. A group fave for us is cayenne pepper, fresh black pepper, ranch, and tabasco sauce. I agree, if it's good pizza, it doesn't need condiments, but (1) pizza in metro-detroit isn't that good, and (2), it doesn't matter if it needs it--if ya want it, I say put it on unashamedly!
Standing Room Only: Susie's Drive Thru
Green River is probably favorite soda. Its delicious lime flavor and deep green color appealed to me as a kid visiting my grandmother in Hammond, IN. I wish I could find it in PA -- I looove it.
@NotAmerican -- I've had Green River at Schoop's, too! Green River milkshakes as well. I'm guessing it's the same Schoop's, since Munster isn't so far from Hammond.
Sigh, memories.
Standing Room Only: La Esquina Del Sabor
I have to say, I was sorely disappointed... maybe it was because it was 6:00 PM, but the jibaritos were rock hard (plaintain and meat), the pork cuts too dry (meat) or too gummy (fat portions), and the overall experience was just not good. Again, maybe because it's the end of the day and it's been under the heat lamp too long... I'm not sure.
There are much better places nearby that do a better job of all the dishes I had tried. If you do decide to go here, perhaps go here early while the food is still fresh and hasn't been sitting out. Otherwise, I would suggest going to Papa's Cache Sabroso as my fav Puerto Rican restaurant locally...
Grilling: Naan
Old thread, but I just put up an illustrated recipe on my site:
http://www.goodeater.org/2/post/2009/08/goodeating-30-minute-naan-on-the-grill.html
It's made with yogurt, but I use baking mpowder instead of yeast. Not quite the same, but it tastes excellent, and is on the table in thirty minutes.
Kenji
Meeting Barack Obama’s Nemesis: The Dixie Kitchen/Calypso Café Johnnycake
Could we have a good recipe for JCs?
Meeting Barack Obama’s Nemesis: The Dixie Kitchen/Calypso Café Johnnycake
I was also going to add that the Evanston Dixie Kitchen is still open and serving complimentary johnnycakes....good lunch specials.
Meeting Barack Obama’s Nemesis: The Dixie Kitchen/Calypso Café Johnnycake
I'm personally partial to the johnnycakes with butter & hot sauce -- it's depressing that Dixie Kitchen isn't gonna be around in Hyde Park anymore, but at least there's still an outpost in Evanston (for the time being, anyway...).
Meeting Barack Obama’s Nemesis: The Dixie Kitchen/Calypso Café Johnnycake
Hey y'all, not trying to re-ignite the Civil War here. :) I actually like molasses or honey on my cornbread, but I prefer the freedom to moderate the sweetness with toppings rather than the bread itself.
I'm also curious as to how the South, a region that will turn iced tea into something akin to pancake syrup, became associated with less-sweet cornbread.
Just had to stick up for the savory variety, and well, I wasn't going to be the first person to use the term "hoe cakes". That tends to get misunderstood by outsiders. And yes, I've actually fixed them on the back of a shovel over a fire of corn stalks.
Meeting Barack Obama’s Nemesis: The Dixie Kitchen/Calypso Café Johnnycake
@Benitowine... Not to burst your bubble, but johnnycake originated in New England (that's in the north) typically served sweet. With syrup on as well as a bit of sugar in the batter. Hoe cake or corn pone are southern and typically unsweetened. But I'll let ya in on a dirty little secret. I've lived in Alabama for 12 yrs now, Texas for 5 years before that and I know lots of southerners (who use sugar in their cornbread). Oh the horror! Probably more that do than don't. But that will stay just between you and I.
All things being equal, I love them both sweet and savory. Both are equally versatile and both are equally good.
Can't stand hearing how southerners "don't" use sugar in their cornmeal based breads or cakes as though its a "damned Yankee" thing, and yet it is the "secret" ingredient to so many southern cooks I know, it just makes me wanna laugh!
Would You Go to a Chain Restaurant on a First Date?
I would not be the least put out by going to a chain for a first date, as long it was at least somewhat classy. However, my most recent flame cooked our first meal together for me all by himself in his own kitchen, and we are now engaged. :]
Would You Go to a Chain Restaurant on a First Date?
My first EVER date was at McDonalds. I was in 5th grade though so it was all i could afford.
Would You Go to a Chain Restaurant on a First Date?
This reminds me of one of my favorite Seinfeld moments:
Elaine: I met this lawyer, we went out to dinner, I had the lobster bisque, we went back to my place, yada yada yada, I never heard from him again.
Jerry: But you yada yada'd over the best part.
Elaine: No, I mentioned the bisque.
Standing Room Only: Jimmy's Red Hots in Chicago
Hot Dogs are one of my favorite food groups. I'm drooling from the picture of a Jimmy's RedHot and want one now. This post just adds to my urge to make a Great American HotDog Tour of the midwest [i.e. Chicago] and upper east coast. I'll be adding Jimmy's RedHots to the list of places to dine at. I'm of the mustard only school of HotDogs so I'll have a good base to judge on most likely it will end up an all-way tie. I bought a pack of RedHots made by a Chicago Co. and hope I can reproduce something close to a real RedHot.
Standing Room Only: Jimmy's Red Hots in Chicago
Gotta love Jimmy's--It serves the other Chicago style of hot dog and ones the locals (esp the old timers) enjoy more than the ones the out of towners are used to seeing and eating.
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Chewing the Fat: Batali and Bourdain on Fatherhood
Posted by Ed Levine, December 18, 2008 at 8:30 AM
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About O_Leaozinho
Location: Lawrenceville, GA
About: Chicago native for the first 24 years of my life. I'm now feeling quite displaced in the south in a suburb of Atlanta.
Favorite foods: Chicago food (Italian beefs [especially these!!!!!], hot dogs, pizza etc), stinky cheeses, cured meats, fresh vegetables and fruits straight from the tree/bush/vine. Pretty much everything except for Twinkies or anything else with that gross filling.
Last bite on earth: Right now it's an Italian combo from Zante's in Hammond IN. I'll probably change my mind tomorrow though.

As a Chicago native, I've never heard ANYONE order any hot dog EVER and use the phrase "dragged through the garden". Where the hell did that even come from? No one local says that!