Let's clear something up about Chicago

[Cheesefood]

I did this yesterday. Frickin' AWESOME. It was the slicing it thin that made the difference. I carefully (and sober) sliced a roast in the mandolin and got some relatively thin slices, and when it came out of the crockpot, it was tender as hell. Next time I'm gonna leave the roast slightly frozen in order to keep from slicing a mushy piece of meat.

Yeah boy! Next time you're in Chi-Town I'll buy you a real one.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Give me a brat over any of that stuff any day of the week.

Or a good Friday Fish Fry. Yummy!

 

[Cauldron7]

Been to Chi-town, and i have had the cheesy beef. I loved the hell out of it! Its all about the seasoning, amazing stuff!

but its got NOTHING on a true philly steak (by True, i mean Pats - the original --- F Genos)

 

[landhoney]

Get a roast beef and slice it THIN. Add it to a crock pot with 1 cup water, 1 package Au Jus and 1 package Italian Seasonings. Cook overnight on low. Turn off for a few hours, then back on High before serving.

Serve in a croissant with very little thick-shredded cheddar and giardinara.

For bonus effect, serve with crinkle-cut or waffle-cut cheesefries and a coke or a shake.

Great thread CHEESE! Didn't know this about Chicago. olllllo and I were talking about regional specialties and how great the web has become for finding great local places. Local people visiting all the great known and unknown spots - then posting pictures and tasting notes to let you(the viewer) decide where you want to go for that great BBQ, Cheesesteak, Dog, Pizza, whatever.
We spent a little too much time at Monk's, so I didn't get to visit the place this site: http://www.bestcheesesteaks.com/ says is the best philly on the east coast. Next time for sure.

BTW, the above sounds great except for the croissant. Is that the usual bread of choice? I'll probably just use a hoagie roll - croissants don't do it for me as sandwich breead.

 

[Cheesefood]

BTW, the above sounds great except for the croissant. Is that the usual bread of choice? I'll probably just use a hoagie roll - croissants don't do it for me as sandwich breead.

Mini french bread rolls are standard - about 6" to 8" long.

 

[srm775]

Here's the deal: Chicago isn't about hot dogs or pizza. Well, it's more about pizza than dogs, but that's not where I'm going.

Chicago is about the Cheesey Beef. Sorry, time to let you all know.

Chicago Style Hot Dogs are commodity items. It's always either a Dave Berg, Vienna Beef, or Kosher's Best style kosher beef hot dog with pickle relish, French's mustard, onions, sport peppers, celery salt, and tomatos. They're all the same, trust me. You either like one company's meet or the other's.

You're wrong and here's why. While there are multiple hot dog suppliers (Best Kosher [Sara Lee - headquarted in Chicagoland], Eisenberg, Vienna Beef, etc.) it's what's put on it and how it's prepared that makes a Chicago dog a "Chicago dog". Only in Chicago are Hot Dogs prepared that way as a rule ... NY it's sauerkraut and mustard and it's usually Nathan's (which suck). And, generally in the Chicago area, you're typically getting one of three vendors: Vienna Beef, Best Kosher (Sara Lee) or Eisenberg (portillos). Also, there are some differences ... poppy seed bun or not, steamed or not, blue relish (which is what it should be) or regular green, etc.

Pizza: Chicago style pizza isn't popular because it's not a travelling food. It's a stationary food experience where you need to commit time and possibly laundry towards a pizza that you can only eat 1-2 slices.

I rarely order Chicago Style pizza and the one place in the Chicago area that has the best (Giordano's) isn't native to Chicago. I really don't think of deep-dish when I think of Chicago food, but mostly because I think thin crust that you find a most Chicago places is much better than anywhere else. And Gino's pizza is gross and I don't know a single person that like it. The corn meal crust and sausage patty are disgusting.

Chicago is about the Cheesey Beef. It's glorious. Roas Beef, simmered in italian spices, served on a mini-french bread roll with giardinara and cheddar cheese. Everyone claims to have the original. Everyone's taste different.

Cheesy beefs are good I'll give you that, but most places get the same exact beef and giardinara also.

 

[Cheesefood]

Cheesy beefs are good I'll give you that, but most places get the same exact beef and giardinara also.

Oh no you Din-tuh!

The beef might be the same, but the seasoning is WAY different and that's what makes it. And Buona Beef's giard is WAY diff then Portillos. Buona has the best giard, with olives in it.

 

[jvh261]

<<I rarely order Chicago Style pizza and the one place in the Chicago area that has the best (Giordano's) isn't native to Chicago. >>

Blasphemy. Giordono's is the Pizza Hut and Dominos of chicago style pizza.

 

[DUCCCC]

What is it with you Chicago-ans (don't even know what to call you guys...) and claiming everything as you own because you load a simply good thing with way too much crap that was never intended to be on something in the first place?

Next you're going to be claiming your BBQ is better than the original BBQ from EASTERN NC!

 

[Rhoobarb]

<<I rarely order Chicago Style pizza and the one place in the Chicago area that has the best (Giordano's) isn't native to Chicago. >>

Blasphemy. Giordono's is the Pizza Hut and Dominos of chicago style pizza.

Uh-oh... we're on to pizza wars now!

Hey, I like Giordano's stuffed! And it is native to Chicago. The first one was opened by Joe & Efren Boglio in 1974. It isn't my favorite, but it's good. I like Lou Malnati's better and Connie's (not the crap they sell at the ball parks or grocery stores, you've gotta go to an actual restaurant) is a long-time favorite as well as Leona's.

Best thin crust - my vote is for Pat's on Lincoln in the city. And I used to love C.W. Napkins, but haven't had one in years!
Best deep dish - Lou's
Best stuffed pizza - Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder

That's in the city. The absolute best Chicago-style deep dish pizza isn't in Chicago at all. It's Papa Del's in Urbana, IL!

 

[Cheesefood]

+1 for Malnatti's

 

[Rhoobarb]

...Next you're going to be claiming your BBQ is better than the original BBQ from EASTERN NC!...

No, that claim goes to Texas!

 

[Cheesefood]

Next you're going to be claiming your BBQ is better than the original BBQ from EASTERN NC!

SWEET
BABY
RAYS.

 

[DUCCCC]

SWEET
BABY
RAYS.

I KNEW IT! You just couldn't leave well enough alone!

 

[jvh261]

Lou's is the best. I like Gino's and even Uno's. Giordano's isn't bad. I just mean that it seems more like chain pizza and given the choices when it comes to deep dish, I don't know why anyone would choose Giordano's.

While its not true Chicago style, Peqouds is right behind Lou's on my list. They get more of my business than Lou's since for whatever reason Lou's won't deliver to my place. Even though the Gino's 6 blocks away from that Lou's will. No sense.

I think we all agree on one thing. Pizza is good.

 

[Rhoobarb]

SWEET
BABY
RAYS.

Not bad, but too sweet, IMHO! Chicago is not a great BBQ town. Try Honey 1 (ribs only) or Smoque (brisket only) in the city. Uncle Bub's in the 'burbs.

 

[Rhoobarb]

... Peqouds is right behind Lou's on my list. ...

Heard great things, but never been. Need to add it to my list.

Best pizza place in Chicago for beer geeks like us: Piece. Thier thin-crust "Connecticut-style" pizza is, um... different. But the beer makes it all good!

 

[jvh261]

Hot Doug's owns. Get a Chicago dog and the duck fat fries (served on fridays and saturdays) and then tell me that Chicago ain't about the dogs.

http://www.hotdougs.com/menu.htm

 

[Rhoobarb]

Hot Doug's owns. ...

Yeah, another place I gotta try. Can you tell I'm hungry?!

Okay, IMHO, most overrated dog in the city: Wiener's Circle.

 

[jvh261]

Piece is good, but the 400 lb. doorman was a *********. Turns out my fiance's driver's license had expired a few weeks earlier unbeknownst to us and he was a dick about it and told her she could come in but couldn't drink. She's 34. No confusion that she's well over 21. It said so on the recently expired license. She had other ID as well but he didn't care and couldn't have been a bigger ********* about it. Like he was taking some joy in telling her she couldn't drink there since it was expired. So screw them. Not saying I'll never go back, but I'm in no hurry to give them business when I've got plenty of great beer and pizza choices near me. Sucks though as Piece is a simple 10 minute train ride from my front door.

I've only gone a couple of times over the years. I remember their hefe being really excellent. The pizza was good, but not great. Its also really noisey in there. For some reason all you hear is the chatter of every conversation in the place and it gets crowded. Good beer though.

 

[jvh261]

Yeah, another place I gotta try. Can you tell I'm hungry?!

Okay, IMHO, most overrated dog in the city: Wiener's Circle.

Wiener's Circle is definitely overrated, but I never went there for the food. I don't think I've been there in many years, but back in my heavy drinking, out-all-night days we'd jump in a cab there around 2-3am for the experience. It was always a fun way to end the night. One night one of my friends gave a kitchen worked a $20 bill and she let him bak there and he started cooking up his own food. We must've walked out of there with about 15 dogs that night. Many stories from that place...

This American Life did a piece on the place for thier tv show. The language used here is NOT SAFE FOR WORK. I couldn't get the embed to work.

 

[Rhoobarb]

Piece is good, but the 400 lb. doorman was a *********....

Well, that blows! Never had a problem there, myself. Last time I went was late (11pm'ish) on a Friday night and the place was surprisingly half empty. It was nice, though. No loud chatter and it was easier to get a beer. I know what you mean about the crowds. First time I was there, it was a zoo!

 

[srm775]

Oh no you Din-tuh!

The beef might be the same, but the seasoning is WAY different and that's what makes it. And Buona Beef's giard is WAY diff then Portillos. Buona has the best giard, with olives in it.

I agree that there are differences ... but chicago-style dogs are different as well. But hey, I celebrate the entire catalog of "Chicago stables"

 

[ScubaSteve]

Man, I watched that old Chris Farley bit about Chicago the other day.....Ditka....Da Bears....Cheese Steak... Those tinted glasses and fake heart attacks were hilarious!!