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The Chicago Traveler

September 30th, 2008

Gold Coast Dogs Are as Good as Gold

Do I sound like a broken record yet? From one of my earlier articles:
The Chicago-style hot dog has seven essential toppings: a boiled or steamed all-beef dog on a poppy-seed bun with (1) mustard, (2) relish, (3) chopped onions, (4) tomato wedges, (5) a pickle spear, (6) sport peppers, and (7) celery salt. I’ve […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

September 23rd, 2008

Stuff Your Face at fRedhots and Fries

Anyone who enjoys a good hot dog in Chicago has heard of Hot Doug’s. But Doug is not the only friendly guy in the Chicago area that serves up great and unusual fast food.
Meet Fred, owner of fRedhots and Fries in Glenview. He’s not too hard to identify. When you step inside the restaurant, you’ll […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

August 27th, 2008

Chicago Area’s First Sonic Drive-In

So, remember how I said that we don’t have Sonic here in Chicago? Well, I have to take that back now.
For years, Chicagoans have had to suffer through commercials for Sonic Drive-In, despite the fact that there aren’t any restaurants of the chain within 70 miles of here. Sonic operates more than 3,000 restaurants, but […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

July 29th, 2008

Hot Doug’s Hot Dog Contest Declares a Winner

As I reported a little over a week ago, Hot Doug’s and Time-Out Chicago challenged people to create a brand new hot dog recipe. The winner’s entry will be featured on Hot Doug’s very own menu for at least a week.
So which dog is the lucky victor? The New Chicago! Created by Kevin Haas, this […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

July 20th, 2008

Hot Doug’s Hot Dog Contest

I’ve described it several times before, but it bears repeating. The Chicago-style hot dog has seven essential toppings: a boiled or steamed all-beef dog on a poppy-seed bun with (1) mustard, (2) relish, (3) chopped onions, (4) tomato wedges, (5) a pickle spear, (6) sport peppers, and (7) celery salt. I’ve seen a few varieties […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments

July 8th, 2008

Eight Best Bangs for Your Buck 2008

With crazy gas prices and now high sales taxes, Chicagoans and visitors are looking to save money where they can. But don’t let your budget prevent you from going out to enjoy a good meal. Here are eight of the best restaurants (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp) where you can get a big meal for […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

July 1st, 2008

Lindy’s & Gertie’s Runs Hot and Cold

Burgers, tacos, pizza, sandwiches: fast-food chains run the gamut of cuisines. However, Lindy’s and Gertie’s has a style all its own: chili and ice cream.
The oddball couple wasn’t always a pair though. Originating on Chicago’s south side, the original Gertie’s Ice Cream began in 1901, and Lindy’s was the city’s first chili parlor in 1924. […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

June 26th, 2008

Taste of Chicago 2008: Taste’s Better Every Year

It’s that time of year again. The Taste of Chicago is an annual food festival, where dozens of restaurants from across the city gather along Columbus Drive. Millions of locals and tourists sample hundreds of dishes from every cuisine imaginable, from hot dogs to ravioli to veggie gyros to pad thai to empanadas to omelets… […]

By Matt B -- 5 comments

June 10th, 2008

Try Manny’s on for Size

If you’re familiar with the cartoon dog Scooby-Doo, then you know that he likes his sandwiches piled sky-high with more ingredients than two pieces of bread could ever actually handle. At Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli, the sandwiches aren’t too far from those animated towers of meat and cheese, and they’ll satisfy even the heartiest […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

May 27th, 2008

Not Fine Dining, Mr Greek Gyros Holds Its Own

Right in the middle of Greektown, Mr. Greek Gyros is open 24 hours, and it’s a good thing too because most of its clientele stops by after a night out on the town. Whether your cravings come at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., this little restaurant makes up for its bare atmosphere with great cooked-to-order […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment