Chicago has a proud and unique history full of music, movies, Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Chicago Beef and now a World Series win! But when many people think of Chicago, they obviously think about the hot dogs. Chicago style hot dogs are so iconic that other cities and restaurants started copying them. You can even buy a Chicago Style Hot Dog starter pack on Amazon. These hot dogs may contain the same ingredients, but they will be nothing like the real thing. If its not made in Chicago, it’s not Chicago style!
hot dog history
Chicago isn’t the only city to claim hot dogs as their own. It’s not really clear which city was the first to introduce them in America or when exactly they started being sold on the streets. There is a lot of speculation that Chicago was one of, if not thee first, city to start pushing dogs on the streets from vendors selling out of a cart.
When Chicago style hot dogs started hitting the streets, they actually were a bit different than they are today. At first, hot dogs were sold as a way to profit from the less desirable meat waste from the factories. Using the technology of meat curing brought to Chicago by German immigrants, these ‘waste dogs’ were turned into a tasty treat!
There is no doubt that the hots dogs of years past were delicious, but they were nothing like the Chicago style dogs we have today. The version of the story we like to is that during The World’s Fair of 1893 (hosted in Chicago) two immigrants gave the ‘waste dog’ an upgrade by making the sausage with kosher meats. Good idea.
Chicago style hot dog ingredients
So what is a Chicago style hot dog? We’re glad you asked!
introducing the chicago style hot dog
It wasn’t until the Great Depression that the Chicago style hot dogs we know and love today came to be. When food was harder to come by, these street foods became more than just cheap eating. They became meals that people used to feed their families. Chicago style hot dogs were cheap to make, had what seemed to be an entire day’s serving of vegetables and were being sold throughout the city making them the depression-era food of choice.
And for those who do not live in Chicago, NO, ketchup does not go on a hot dog! Chicago style dogs prove that ketchup has no place on one of these tasty treats. Tomato’s on the other hand make a great condiment! So if you want to give Chicago hot dogs a try, be sure to go to Chicago to get the real experience. If you want to make one at home, do us a favor and skip the ketchup please!
