Hot Doug’s menu is not your run of the mill Hot Dog restaurant menu. For starters, every Friday and Saturday he serves Duck Fat Fries, yep that’s right – french fries cooked in duck fat. If you have never had them, they are without a doubt the best tasting fries I have ever eaten.
(Picture taken during my trip to Chicago April ’09)
His menu consists of different type of encased meats such as Andouille Sausage, Polish Sausage, Italian Sausage, Fire Dogs and even Veggie Dogs. The cool thing is that each custom dog on the menu is named (and sometimes renamed) after a celebrity or famous person. One example when I was there in April was The Selma Hayek (formerly the Madonna, the Raquel Welch and the Ann Margret) which is an andouille dog.
(Picture taken during my trip to Chicago April ’09)
Our group arrived approximately 10 minutes after Hot Doug’s opened and by the time we sat down, the line was already out the door and snaking down the block. Every day there is a Celebrity Sausage featured on the menu as well. If you happen to find yourself in Chicago, a trip to Hot Doug’s is a must.
Hot Doug’s!
The Sausage Superstore & Encased Meat Emporium
3324 North California Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: 773.279.9550
Fax : 773.279.9553
www.hotdougs.com
However this coming Wednesday, October 7th The Astor Center in NYC is bringing Hot Doug’s to NYC for one night only. There will be two seatings one from 6:30-8:00 pm and a second one from 8:30-10:00 pm. I was fortunate enough to score a ticket to the early seating (there are only 30 seats per seating). Once I read the description of the event and realized I could go back to Hot Doug’s without leaving NYC I signed up.
The Astor Center’s description for the evening is as follows:
“Attention hot dog lovers, chef/owner restaurant devotees, Chi-town transplants and fans of unusual opportunities to eat the delicious: for one night only, “Hot Doug” Sohn is putting his show on the road and bringing it to Astor Center. To score Chicago’s finest hot dogs, you would usually have to hop a plane to O’Hare, drive out to Avondale, and wait in a two-hour line at the legendary Hot Doug’s, but for one evanescent eve, you can book a table for two right here in Manhattan with Doug himself. The chef, owner, and resident personality behind this beloved institution will join us for the evening, serving up Chicago-style hot dogs, foie dogs, and his famous duck fat fries. Each ticket represents a table for two and a meal of two chicago dogs, two foie gras dogs, an order of duck fat fries and a six pack of beer, as well as a tasty surprise to start. A bargain even the meal was one you could get any old time, an amazing steal when you consider the airfare that would usually be involved. There is an early and a late seating but only 30 tickets for each, so act fast.”
I kind of feel like Charlie Bucket in Willie Wonka after having found the last Golden Ticket. I will report back on what I know will be a fun night in next week’s posting.
In closing, the back of the Hot Doug’s t-shirt says it all:
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