DOWNTOWN — It's National Hot Dog Day — which means it's basically Christmas in July for Chicago.
After all, what city does hot dogs better than Chicago? Sure, New Yorkers might (emphasis on "might") have invented them, but they didn't reach perfection until Chicagoans dumped neon-green relish, mustard, tomatoes, sports peppers, onions, a pickle and a smattering of celery salt on 'em.
So, head to your favorite stand (some of them have been around for more than half a century) and honor this encased-meat perfection Wednesday.
If you can't do that until later, read these stories to remind yourself what you're missing:
[DNAinfo/Janet Rausa Fuller]
Chicago's 10 Oldest Hot Dog Stands Have Stayed Within Families For Decades
CHICAGO — Walk into a hot dog stand and you'll walk out greasy and satisfied. That's the goal, anyway, of any stand worth its celery salt and presumably what's motivating you to begin with.
It could be a stand in any corner of the city. (There are an estimated 1,800 to choose from, according to Bob Schwartz, senior vice president at Vienna Beef and author of “Never Put Ketchup On A Hot Dog.”) You could be wearing a tank top or a tux. Doesn’t matter. You know what you’re there for, as does the guy next to you, and you both know how it’s going to taste.
[Courtesy Chicago History Museum]
Chicagoans Have Been Obsessed With Hot Dogs For More Than a Century
OLD TOWN — Chicaogans have been obsessed with hot dogs for a really long time, and we've got the photos to prove it.
In anticipation of the Chicago History Museum's third annual Chicago Hot Dog Fest this weekend, the museum shared some old photographs of Chicagoans with hot dogs in hand.
[Courtesy Heinz]
Heinz Unveils New 'Chicago Dog Sauce' To Get Around Our No-Ketchup Rule
DOWNTOWN — Yes, Heinz knows a true Chicago dog doesn't include ketchup.
But — wink, wink, nudge, nudge — would you like to try some of its special Chicago Dog Sauce? (Please ignore that the sauce looks, smells and tastes just like ketchup ... and that they have the same recipe.)
Heinz is rolling out the Chicago Dog Sauce for National Hot Dog Day on Wednesday.
[DNAinfo/Ed Komenda]
Vienna Beef's Bridgeport Factory Has A Store, Too
BRIDGEPORT — There's a new hot dog stand coming to the neighborhood, and you might say this one comes straight from the source.
Vienna Beef plans to open an official Factory Store on Memorial Day weekend at 3847 S. Morgan St. — across the street from the longtime Chicago company's new manufacturing and distribution facility.
[Courtesy Jeff Zimmermann]
Chicago's Most Prolific Hot Dog Muralist On The Right Way To Eat A Wiener
DOWNTOWN — You can find Jeff Zimmermann's hot dogs all over the city — but they're not the kind you slather in mustard and eat.
Zimmermann, of Humboldt Park, estimates he's painted 20 to 30 hot dogs in murals found throughout Chicago and in canvas paintings for galleries. You can see the dogs at Oak Street Beach and at California Avenue and Cortez Street, among other locales.
Zimmermann just has one rule: The hot dogs never have ketchup.
[Flickr/jeffreyw]
Grab A Hot Dog For $1 At Portillo's, America's Dog For National Hot Dog Day
CHICAGO — You'll be able to celebrate National Hot Dog Day even if you're on a budget this year.
Hot dogs will be $1 for everyone on July 19 at Portillo's and America's Dog and Burger in celebration of the holiday.
[Courtesy Ashley Depew]
A Four-Foot-Long Chicago Style Hot Dog Made This Chef's Birthday Epic
HUMBOLDT PARK — A Chicago chef wanted a hot dog-themed birthday. His industry friends delivered in a big way.
Mike Simmons, chef/owner at Cafe Marie-Jeanne, 1001 N. California Ave., was surprised with an "epic" four-foot-long, 15-pound Chicago-style char dog at his 40th birthday party last week. The group split the monster dog into "one-pound hot dog steaks" so it was easier to eat.
Nothin’ like a weiner sandwiched between two buns! 🌭 Reppin Chicago, IL: @SheaCoulee! #DragRace pic.twitter.com/TbNPAVul1Z
— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) March 25, 2017
Shea Coulee Brings Chicago Hot Dog Chic (No Ketchup) To RuPaul's Runway
CHICAGO — On the Season 9 premiere of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Friday, Chicago queen Shea Coulee was asked to strut down the runway in an outfit inspired by her city.
Proving she is a true Chicago queen, there was no ketchup involved.
[DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
Patio Beef Celebrates 35 Years Of Filling Edgewater's Hearts And Orders
EDGEWATER — A lot of things have changed in Edgewater over the last 35 years, but throughout that time, Patio Beef has remained virtually the same.
"They're a neighborhood institution," Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) said. "They're just great people. The community, young and old alike, every background in our wonderful diverse community enjoys Patio Beef."
The family-run diner has been headed by Greek-American Leo Diantzikis since he took over the 6022 N. Broadway spot in 1982.
[Courtesy Brad Tlusty]
Cubs Fan Has Eaten 150 Hot Dogs With Unique Toppings For Every Team Game
WRIGLEYVILLE — Of the 150-plus hot dogs Brad Tlusty has eaten during the Cubs' season, the worst was the "olive dog."
It sounds exactly like what it is: a hot dog smothered in sliced black olives. It's not exactly Tlusty's dog of choice (he prefers ketchup, mustard and hot peppers), but he had to eat it to satisfy a bet with his brother: That he'd eat a hot dog for each Cubs game, and each had to have different toppings.
For National Hot Dog Day, Check Out These 12 Outrageous Wieners in Chicago
CHICAGO — It doesn't need to be National Hot Dog Day for Chicagoans to enjoy a sausage that's been dragged through the garden and put on a poppy seed bun.
But since Thursday is, in fact, National Hot Dog Day, you have an excuse to make sure the family grabs a dog. After all, we have some catching up to do: Los Angeles residents apparently eat more hot dogs than Chicagoans (which ranks at No. 4 for consumption), according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.