mother-in-law: a name we're starting to like again

The mother-in-law (MIL) is gaining some exposure lately. Newspaper articles, blogs and now on a new show called "Best Food Ever" on TLC. They featured 10 sandwiches across America and the MIL ranked at #6 from local dog stand 'Johnny O's' on the southside of chi-town. Gotta check this place out. Old school dog stand (not the prettiest place), good grub & good prices. They're on 35th St just east of Morgan in Bridgeport (connected to a corner liqour store which I found out that you can order your food from inside there, also).

phunk wrote:The mother-in-law (MIL) is gaining some exposure lately.

The ever intrepid Rene G, historian of matters culinary with a focus on Chicago's South Side, has written, spoke and even been on television with Anthony Bourdain talking about the Mother in Law. Here is a link to a post by Rene G, aka Peter Engler, from 2005. 'Mother in Law' = 'Tamale with Chili

Enjoy,
Gary

phunk wrote:The mother-in-law (MIL) is gaining some exposure lately. Newspaper articles, blogs and now on a new show called "Best Food Ever" on TLC. They featured 10 sandwiches across America and the MIL ranked at #6 from local dog stand 'Johnny O's' on the southside of chi-town.

The sixth best sandwich in the country is a mother in law? Are they really serious? From what I understand Chicago is further represented by Bleeding Heart Bakery, Chicago Diner, Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder and Fat Willy's in the Bakery, Diner, Cheese and Barbecue categories. Who did the research for this show? (I should mention I haven't seen Best Food Ever. Is it available anywhere online?)

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to see Johnny O's get some national attention. The owner is a great guy and a blast to talk to. I am a little disappointed that in the past few years they removed any mention of the mother in law from their outdoor menu (it's still listed inside the store). "We f---ed up," said Johnny O when I asked him about this.

Johnny O's, 2005


Johnny O's, 2009


Johnny O's
3461 S Morgan St
(hot dog window is around corner on 35th St)
Chicago
773-927-1011

I talked to Johnny O today. He said he's gonna re-do the outside menus very soon and definitely put the MIL on there. He said "I can't remember how that didn't make the menu."

I was watching the Planet Green channel last night on the dish(didnt know I had it). and watched a few food related episodes.

The 8:00 show was Best Food Ever, focusing on "sensational sandwiches"(originally aired May 2010) they profiled Johnny O's and the mother-in-law..., mercy..., I gotta get down there for a few.

Cant believe I nver noticed Johnny O's before, as Bridgeport is a place I find myself in often.

Interest in the mother in law continues to grow. I found the Johnny O's segment from Best Food Ever on Youtube (but the resolution is so low it's tough to watch).

Old news, but here's an entry on the mother in law from an NPR blog. "It's less than the sum of its parts."

More old news, Michael Nagrant included Fat Johnnie's version in his top ten tastes of summer.

Michael Nagrant wrote:10) Mother-In-Law—Fat Johnnie’s: Normally a poppy-seed hotdog bun stuffed with a tamale slathered in chili, cheese, onions and sport peppers is winter hibernation food, but since this ramshackle South Side shack is carry-out only, the best place to eat one of these monsters is on the sidewalk in the noon day sun of a lazy summer day. Fat Johnnie’s, 7242 South Western

Nagrant has his genders confused. The cheese-topped treat he describes is what Fat Johnnie would call a father in law. A mother in law is the same sans cheese.

Johnny O's
3461 S Morgan St
Chicago
773-927-1001

Fat Johnnie's
7232 S Western Av
Chicago
773-737-6294

Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots
7242 S Western Ave, Chicago

... is still rocking it!

Panther in the Den wrote:Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots
7242 S Western Ave, Chicago

... is still rocking it!

you'd never know it based off looking at that picture. totally disgusting

Clarence Beeks wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots
7242 S Western Ave, Chicago

... is still rocking it!

you'd never know it based off looking at that picture. totally disgusting

It is difficult to photograph well.

Funny story...

I had ordered and asked the gal for it to not be wrapped so I could get a picture. I would take it back to the picnic table just in the paper. It always looks smooshed otherwise.

I hear Johnnie yell out from the back...

“Give him a Box! He’s gonna drop it!”

The gal yells back...

“He doesn’t want a box!”

I Love Chicago!

Clarence Beeks wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots
7242 S Western Ave, Chicago

... is still rocking it!

you'd never know it based off looking at that picture. totally disgusting

It looks absolutely filthy ... just the way I like it!!!

O.K. I exist out here beyond these forum posts, as persons who attended this past Sunday's LTHF Picnic could attest.
Are other forum members ignoring me for any number of reasons, not necessarily limited to my use of colored text, and hosting of images at World-Wide Web sites which are not Photobucket® or Flickr®? (Both of which got attacked and surrendered some posted images, to the shock of their uploaders, who did not have backups.)
Because I posted an image of Fat Johnnie's Mother-in-Law in this thread here on LTHF back on 18 June 2018.

pudgym29 wrote: O.K. I exist out here beyond these forum posts, as persons who attended this past Sunday's LTHF Picnic could attest.
Are other forum members ignoring me for any number of reasons, not necessarily limited to my use of colored text, and hosting of images at World-Wide Web sites which are not Photobucket® or Flickr®? (Both of which got attacked and surrendered some posted images, to the shock of their uploaders, who did not have backups.)
Because I posted an image of Fat Johnnie's Mother-in-Law in this thread here on LTHF back on 18 June 2018.

I enjoy your posts!

Color is not an issue but the smallness of your photos causes me to not review them.

Your travel logs using public transportation are also interesting but not necessarily pertinent.

Your recent post was not necessity ignored but rather lost in the many threads about the exact same subject. Maybe we can get the mods to combine the exact same threads?

Also I don’t think your post is as ignored but perhaps it might be the Facebook effect? On Facebook you might get an immediate response to a post (a thumbs up, simple reply) validating your information but on a forum many might read it but will not reply because they don’t have anything to add.

Please keep up the great work!

Just keep posting pudgym29.

pudgym29 wrote: O.K. I exist out here beyond these forum posts, as persons who attended this past Sunday's LTHF Picnic could attest.
Are other forum members ignoring me for any number of reasons, not necessarily limited to my use of colored text, and hosting of images at World-Wide Web sites which are not Photobucket® or Flickr®? (Both of which got attacked and surrendered some posted images, to the shock of their uploaders, who did not have backups.)
Because I posted an image of Fat Johnnie's Mother-in-Law in this thread here on LTHF back on 18 June 2018.

the mil was very much old news by 2018. maybe if your pic was as unappetizing as others posted here, it would have more replies.

Clarence Beeks wrote:the mil was very much old news by 2018. maybe if your pic was as unappetizing as others posted here, it would have more replies.

I have loved your photos too!

I would make you a personal challenge for you to take a more photogenic capture of this difficult subject.

Matter of a fact I’ll even pay for your sandwich.