How do you like you chili-dogs?

Cafe Society
1

Promoted by this thread and by a recent discussion at a family gathering.

How do you like your chili-dogs? Go into as much or as little detail as you like but for purposes of this thread, chili-dogs essentially fall into one of two categories.

1 – Some people overload toppings onto their chili-dog to the point where you must use plate and fork (and maybe a bib) to eat them.

2 – Some people lightly top their chili-dogs enabling them to be consumed by picking them up and eating them like a regular dog.

Assume you’re at home or in some other circumstances where either option is open to you, what’s your pleasure.

Speaking just for myself, I am very firmly in the first category. Load them up and pass the napkins!

2

I voted “Just a spoonful” because that way I can add onions and cheese and still eat the dog out of hand. Kosher dog, toasted bun, stripe of mustard, layer of Wolf, chopped onions, finely shredded cheese.

3

If the thing becomes too messy to eat with your hands, you just might as well cook the hot dogs with the chili and serve both in a bowl.

4

Really, polls like this should be public so we know who to shun when in polite society. :smiley:

5

Maybe a bread bowl?

Do what I do, shun everyone.:stuck_out_tongue:

6

Hot dogs should be eaten out of hand. If you’re using a knife and fork you’re eating chili with bread and a hot dog in it.

That being said I want enough chili on my dog that some squishes out when i take a bite.

7

If I’m eating a Coney, ladel it on and I’ll use a fork. If I’m eating a chili dog, just enough to cover the dog so as I can still eat it with my hands.

It’s a fine line.

8

Either way is fine but there must be diced, fresh onion on top, preferably a sweet onion and lots of it.

9

In a drive-in/eat-in-car situation I prefer less chili due to the mess/cleanup factor. In a sit-down situation I’m happy with a lot of chili, and of course lots of chopped onions either way. And maybe some Fritos Scoops on the side.

10

A good amount of chili, raw onions and what’s a hot dog without yellow mustard?

11

I thought this was going to be a question about condiments, to which I say “with onions and mustard.” I’m not really much of a chili dog person, but I voted the second option. Definitely not overflowing.

12

I’ve never actually had one that could be eaten out of hand, and I love adding additional stuff to it. And that means I need a fork, so I picked the first option.

That doesn’t mean I’m not open to the idea, though. It just isn’t how I’ve ever found them when I’ve ordered them.

13

Onions are gross. I will take mine with shredded cheese though.

More chili is better but it gets to be a mess with too much.

14

I’m on team ‘spoonful’ but that’s not really accurate. It would take probably 3 or 4 of what I’d call a spoonful to properly dress the dog. A ladle is way too much.

To finish it off, I’ll also add some sharper-than-sweeter chopped onion, maybe a little mustard (depends on the chili) and something for spice like giardiniera or sport peppers or even nacho rings in a pinch.

Edit: no cheese on mine, please. It gets lost in the other strong flavors.

15

It depends on whether I want a lot of chili and to eat it with a knife and fork, or whether I want just a little chili and to eat it out of hand.

Really, there’s no debate here. No right or wrong. Purely a matter of circumstance and personal preference at each chili dog-eating occasion.

16

Double cheese and just enough chili so it can be eaten like a hot dog.

However, putting it in a bowl and eating with a spoon is kinda fun too.

17

Yeah, I can eat them either way. I’d rather be able to hold the chili dog, but there must be onions.

18

I sort of think that a chili dog is already too much of a good thing. I like hot dogs. I like chili (and have a great recipe). They’re each great on their own, but not as good together. And the chili would make the bun soggy; I don’t like soggy bread.

I wonder if I should revive the “foods that are better plain” thread to include chili dogs.

19

I sometime go to Pinks, they make a great chili dog. But they have nice dogs, with natural casing/skin. So I usually order 1 or 2 plain with mustard, and then one with Chili and cheese. The chile doesnt cost more, it is standard. It’s more of a chile sauce there, than something you’d eat from a bowl.

20

Wouldn’t a “plain chili dog,” by the lights of that thread, be a simple naked hot dog in a roll? Or maybe no roll?

I wouldn’t want bread soggy with water. Bread soggy with coffee might be all right if I was in a weird mood at the breakfast table. If it’s soggy with good chili, hot sauce, and a frank…pass me that knife and fork.