chicago style dogs

For 35 years we lived about 3/4 of a mile from Martino’s. It’s a hot dog shack. Well, not really a “shack”, it’s a proper business that’s had a loyal following for 45 year now. Since 1977, as their sign says.

When our daughter Kathryn was old enough to get an after-school job working there was one of her first paid gigs. Oddly enough I’m not sure we ever went to eat there, but we have been there a great many times before, during and after.

There’s this thing about Chicago Style hot dogs — or often known as Chicago Style Red Hots. If you’re from the Windy City you know all about the controversy between Kosher and non-kosher dogs (the absence or presence of pork meat in the sausage respectively). But aside from that major sticking point among Chicago Style afficianados a dog needs specific ingredients to pass muster ( or maybe pass “mustard” as a Chicago Style product.

The dogs are grilled, not boiled, and not rippers. They are served on a soft spongy poppy seed bun. They are topped with a squirt of mustard (only, no ketchup), onions, 2 sport peppers, 2 slices of tomato (or wedges) and one dill pickle spear. But between the squirt of mustard and the onions comes a tablespoon of electric green pickle relish. All of that is wrapped in paper, along with a modest portion of fresh french fries. You end up with a little bundle that makes a mess of poppy seeds all over the table when you unwrap it, and it couldn’t be any better, tastier, or satisfying.

I have no idea what it is in the green pickle relish that makes it so electric green but any imitation just isn’t acceptable. It probably isn’t good for us, but there is some mystique about that electric color that the Chicago Style Dog demands. Go figure.

Our new digs are a lot closer to Martino’s than were we formerly lived. I guess it was fitting that just a week or two into our new digs we had to stop and imbibe on the taste of so many years and such happy memories.

Like a lot of hot dog joints they also serve a terrific Italian Beef and all sorts of variations on the menu, along with shakes and malts and desserts — carrot cake, chocolate cake, rice krispy bars, etc.. It’s definitely a taste of the 70’s and it’s worth it.

You never see a long line of cars at their drive up — because there is none. You come inside, and stand in line and order like real human beings. You are greeted with a smile, service is fast, and I’ve never had a botched order. They are about hospitality, not food service.

I bet we’ll stop by more often now that they are almost on our doorstep. I hope so. They deserve to survive well into the mid-21st Century!

Hooray for hot dogs! No my favorite food, but among my favorite food memories.

I hope you’re well, take care of yourself and I’ll talk with you tomorrow.