# Let's say I offered you five dollars to eat a Chicago-style hot dog... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256 "2014-10-03T06:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/21 "2014-10-03T11:44:31Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > The green stuff is relish. aah, I thought it was just chopped up onions. To me, relish should be caramelized: [like this](http://www.reallynicerecipes.com/recipe/sauces/onion-relish) ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/22 "2014-10-03T11:53:58Z")
I pay for the privilege whenever I am back in Chicago, so I would absolutely take your $5 to eat one! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/23 "2014-10-03T12:01:09Z")
> [@Weedy](#): > > What’s the green stuff - is it gherkin? That might be weird. How hot is the mustard? > > The worst thing about hot dogs is that the meat is not usually that great, but if it was a decent sausage-y thing I’d happily eat it. > [@cochrane](#): > > The green stuff is relish. > [@MrDibble](#): > > aah, I thought it was just chopped up onions. To me, relish should be caramelized: [like this](http://www.reallynicerecipes.com/recipe/sauces/onion-relish) It’s American-style sweet pickle relish — [The Best Pickle Relish | Taste Test](http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/09/taste-test-the-best-pickle-relish-store-bought-brand.html). (In American terms, “pickle” by itself means cucumber pickle.) “Gherkin” in American usage refers to a specific size (small, but not as small as a cornichon) cucumber pickle, served whole. The mustard is yellow American mustard. The most common brand is French’s and it’s served at almost any hamburger or hotdog joint — [Catering | Gerrity's the Fresh Grocer](http://gerritys.com/catering/?product=frenchs-yellow-mustard) It is not hot at all. In fact it has almost no mustard flavor. It mostly tastes like turmeric. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/24 "2014-10-03T12:03:29Z")
I’m assuming this is a trick, because who wouldn’t say yes? Are the little green things insanely hot peppers or something? Is it all made of wax? Also, I’d say no because I can’t handle raw onions. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/25 "2014-10-03T12:13:54Z")
Pass. Take that silly pickle spear away and maybe we’ll talk. Maybe. At least there isn’t ketchup on it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/26 "2014-10-03T12:18:22Z")
Sure, I’d eat it. It’s not my first choice for how to do up a dog, but I’ve got nothing against a well-made Chicago dog. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/27 "2014-10-03T12:18:23Z")
$5 is kind of a chintzy bribe, but I’d do it if I was hungry enough, then polish off a plate of Cincinnati-style [five-way chili](http://www.roadfood.com/Photos/1380.jpg). It’s all health food. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/28 "2014-10-03T12:22:25Z")
So, you’re paying me to eat lunch? Sure, I’ll do that. I mean, I don’t like my hotdogs with all that crap on them normally (I’m a ketchup/mustard/sweet relish guy), but if you’re paying me then sure. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/29 "2014-10-03T12:27:21Z")
Can we do this everyday? It would really revolutionize my lunch budget. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/30 "2014-10-03T12:33:49Z")
Onions? Forget it. I hate when I have to knock down people when I have to RUN to the rest room. Repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/31 "2014-10-03T12:37:13Z")
The whole thing looks a little ungainly to me, but like the man said, 5 bucks is 5 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/32 "2014-10-03T12:41:34Z")
Only with a natural casing wiener. That guy’s skinless. (But, yeah, I’ll eat it. Still, I don’t go for hot dogs unless it’s a place I know has natural casing dogs or I’m really desperate. The fully dressed style of Chicago dog, though, is not my personal favorite, as a Chicagoan.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/33 "2014-10-03T12:43:03Z")
Sure! BTW, would $5 be enough to get me a 2nd dog? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/34 "2014-10-03T12:45:29Z")
Wait, you mean I get all those toppings, five bucks, \*\*AND \*\*I get to put ketchup on it? Where do I sign!? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/35 "2014-10-03T12:48:07Z")
Eh. Over-fussy presentation, but gimme the finnif and I’m good with that. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/36 "2014-10-03T12:48:15Z")
I don’t like most of whats on that dog, but not enough to not eat a free dog AND get paid for it. Bring it on. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/37 "2014-10-03T12:55:12Z")
I tried one when I visited Chicago this summer. At Portillo’s, which I discovered later was rated by TripAdvisor as the 22nd best restaurant in the city. It was delicious. Of course, part of it was the ingredients – the hot dog was all beef and the relish was freshly made (it was a bright green, like a fresh Ba-Tempte pickle). I’d love to be able to eat more of those. A place here advertised them, so I gave it a shot. It was awful. The hot dog was just a cheap pork/chicken one, the relish was Heinz’s, they used banana peppers instead of a sport pepper, gave less tomato (one slice instead of two), and pickle chips instead of a full dill pickle. I wouldn’t try that one again if you paid me. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/38 "2014-10-03T12:57:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Only with a natural casing wiener. That guy’s skinless. (But, yeah, I’ll eat it. Still, I don’t go for hot dogs unless it’s a place I know has natural casing dogs or I’m really desperate. The fully dressed style of Chicago dog, though, is not my personal favorite, as a Chicagoan.) Yes, the wiener looks very off-putting to me, too—reminds me of the cheap, industrial, sort of gummy ones you find at the bottom of the shelf. I’m also not a great fan of tomatoes, but for a fiver, sure, I’ve eaten worse things I paid for. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/39 "2014-10-03T13:00:00Z")
Can I eat two dogs for $10? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256/40 "2014-10-03T13:06:59Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > I’d eat it. I don’t like the tomatoes and wouldn’t enjoy it. But I’ve eaten worse things for free. +1 Tomatoes? Why’d it have to be tomatoes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-offered-you-five-dollars-to-eat-a-chicago-style-hot-dog/700256.md?page=3)