[Al Skierkiewicz]

OK, Jane was on the right track with the blackened right off the grill. Although a true Chicago Dog will never put on ketchup, I always do. Sometimes I have to take the ketchup for my fries and add it to the dog myself. Super Dog on the Northwest side will not make a dog with the red stuff.

Mine at home will have ketchup, mustard, dill relish and dried onion flakes for a little extra crunch without the breath. A dog from Foxie's/Dog Den will have Ketchup(when I add it) , Mustard, sweet relish (artificially dyed a strange psychedelic green), a dill slice (long way of course to fit the bun) a few tomato slices, kraut if you ask, celery salt and a few hot sport peppers.

I have had a Nathan's dog in Las Vegas and I have got to say, not much for what they charge. What costs $4 at Nathan's would get you two dogs all the way and fries in Chicago. (In Chicago it is not unusual to have fries included in the price, and some will wrap the fries in with the dog.) In Chicago you have to know what you are ordering since a "polish" is something completely different than a "dog" and will never be confused with an Italian Sausage (w/peppers of course). A Nathan's style, I am sad to say, is served at any hot dog stand with dogs on the menu. A Super Dog however will get you a 1/2lb dog, cooked any way you like and on french bread if you want, with anything on it including chilli and cheese, or kraut. There is nothing like a Super on French.