cilantro wrote:

Louisa Chu wrote:Just a reminder that Doug re-opens this coming TUESDAY, August 28

Doesn't look like it anymore. The website's been updated again, with the August 28 date removed.

ARGH.

But thanks - we are now officially on Doug Watch 2007.

Chef Doug ended up having to have surgery to repair the damage to his foot. He told the tribune that he expects to be out for two weeks or so.

From the website:

"Doug's response: "Me likey the vicodin." "

Gotta love it

Hot Doug's is reopening on Wednesday, September 12. [via the Hot Doug's website]

Stagger wrote:From the website:

"Doug's response: "Me likey the vicodin." "

Gotta love it

Don't we all!

While browsing the Chicago Burger Project site, I just came across my quote-of-the-year for the Chicago food scene.

Posted by Andy Masur in April:


Doug's for Lunch.

Kuma's for Dinner.

Death for Breakfast.


- - - - - - - - -
[What a great way to go.]

Camusman wrote:While browsing the Chicago Burger Project site, I just came across my quote-of-the-year for the Chicago food scene.

Posted by Andy Masur in April:


Doug's for Lunch.

Kuma's for Dinner.

Death for Breakfast.


- - - - - - - - -
[What a great way to go.]

I saw that awhile ago, and loved it so much that it became my signature on another site. It sums up everything I hold dear.

An email I received from Doug's last Wednesday says that he will be re-opening on September 12.

Welcome back, Doug.

Has anyone been? I'd love a report on the line length.
Jen

JenM wrote:Has anyone been? I'd love a report on the line length.
Jen

I think you can safely assume that the lines are as long as usual and if there are short lines, it's not going to stay that way much longer.

When I go I tend to assume that they're out the door, around the corner, down the sidewalk and past the back yard area.

If they're any shorter than that, I allow myself a feeling of pleasant surprise.

(Since I generally go mid-week at off-peak times, this might be a mostly manufactured feeling.)

Be warned that, for reasons unknown (certainly not anything posted at cityofchicago.org's website under traffic advisories) California is closed between Roscoe & Addison. The resultant redirected traffic might prompt some higher than normal backups if you are heading over to HD's.

There is a Romanian Festival going on this weekend. I work across the street from HDs!!

Yes, finally found out why the street's closed (why would the city think closing California Ave. might be something people would want to know?).

Taste of Romania - http://www.tasteofromania.net/

The pictures look good.

The website linked in your post states that the festival is being held on Elston Ave., S. of Fullerton - not at Addison & California . . . or have I read the information incorrectly?

Eh?

Little Bucharest & Continental Café Restaurants, would like to invite you to our 17th annual Chicago’s Taste of Romania that will take place this fall on September 15th and 16th on the corner of Addison and California.

I see what you're talking about, though. The poster and website say Addison and California, and the website also says Elston.

Weird.

Bill wrote:The website linked in your post states that the festival is being held on Elston Ave., S. of Fullerton - not at Addison & California . . . or have I read the information incorrectly?

Invitation

Little Bucharest & Continental Café Restaurants, would like to invite you to our 17th annual Chicago’s Taste of Romania that will take place this fall on September 15th and 16th on the corner of Addison and California.

Don't know what you are talking about. That's what I was referring to; helps explain the giant barrier to my daily commute along California.

Kman wrote:Invitation

Little Bucharest & Continental Café Restaurants, would like to invite you to our 17th annual Chicago’s Taste of Romania that will take place this fall on September 15th and 16th on the corner of Addison and California.

Don't know what you are talking about. That's what I was referring to; helps explain the giant barrier to my daily commute along California.

Isn't this the one that boasts free grape juice for all?

stevez wrote:

Kman wrote:Invitation

Little Bucharest & Continental Café Restaurants, would like to invite you to our 17th annual Chicago’s Taste of Romania that will take place this fall on September 15th and 16th on the corner of Addison and California.

Don't know what you are talking about. That's what I was referring to; helps explain the giant barrier to my daily commute along California.

Isn't this the one that boasts free grape juice for all?

Dunno. Really feel like I've hijacked this thread offtopic already, was just trying to offer up some info that the way to Doug's this weekend is not going to be very direct and with California off-limits parking will be even tighter (not to mention competition from fest-goers). Humbly suggest anyone that wants to discuss Taste of Romania 2007 might want to do so in a new thread and allow this one to return to H-D. Just my $0.02.

I went on Friday, cursed the street closure, and made it to the door just a minute or so after opening - and there was already a line. But the really magic thing about this place is, the line goes fast, there's always a seat opening up, and your food appears quicker than you could imagine. I was in and out in about a half hour, and that involved some lingering.

For me: cognac-infused pheasant sausage with truffle moutarde and...a cheese I had never heard of before. (A delicious cheese. It was whitish. Does that help?) And duck fat fries, which are heart-wrenchingly good.

A question: one of the first times I went to HD's, roundabout 2002, I had a polish, which was crap. Just awful. I gave the place a second chance, luckily, and I have never had anything that fell short of sensational since. So I'm wondering, was that just a bad day, or does Doug's magic touch not extend to a good polish? I suppose I could try it for myself, but A) it was REALLY awful, and B) there are so many other wonderful sausages I get distracted each time.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:So I'm wondering, was that just a bad day, or does Doug's magic touch not extend to a good polish?

Doug does an adequate job with standrd Chicago dogs and polishes, but the real draw is the specialty sausages. Doug's is never my first choice for the more standard Chicago hot dog stand items. Although they are not bad by any means, they're not good enough to stand in line for.

I haven't tried the Polish there, but I've never had a complaint about the classic Chicago char dogs there. I usually order one specialty sausage, and one char dog.

LTH,

Stopped at Hot Doug's yesterday to fill a sudden yearning for a Gourmet encased sausage and Doug's did not disappoint.

Ordered the "Saucisse de Toulouse with Anchovi Aioli and Fromager D'Affinois" which is my favorite specialty sausage at HDs bar none. I think it's a duck sausage but cannot remember. Perfect marriage between the link and the the cheese/aioli. Spectacular flavor. The flagship offering at HD's IMHO .

I must say that it took me awhile to get in my comfort zone at HD's in terms of a totally satisfying order. At first, I went with two specialty sausages and a large fry and drink - way too much food or maybe rather way too much rich food. Never seemed to finish my meal and left rather uncomfortably full at times.

The last 6 or 7 visits, however, I've really gotten into a groove and developed a good MO:

One specialty sausage
One regular sausage
One small fry (or duck fat fries on the weekend)
One drink (canned or fountain)

This has been my standard ordering MO for the last few visits as mentioned above and really creates, for me, an outstanding lunch.

I have to say, somewhat surprisingly, that the last few times my "regular" sausage has been the Corn Dog. Even more stunning is the fact that I think Hot Doug's has the best Corn Dog in the City. I say this with the caveat that I don't try corn dogs on most my visits to hot dog places but the coating at HD's seems really fresh and flavorful to me and the encased dog seems of a high quality unlinke so many of the disgusting low-quality Corn Dog dogs I've had in the past. Really, really tasty.

Doug was there sitting on a stool behind the counter in good spirits looking well.

Bster

Bster wrote:
I have to say, somewhat surprisingly, that the last few times my "regular" sausage has been the Corn Dog. Even more stunning is the fact that I think Hot Doug's has the best Corn Dog in the City. I say this with the caveat that I don't try corn dogs on most my visits to hot dog places but the coating at HD's seems really fresh and flavorful to me and the encased dog seems of a high quality unlinke so many of the disgusting low-quality Corn Dog dogs I've had in the past. Really, really tasty.

You know, the corn dog at Hot Doug's always rides shotgun with a regular sausage on a bun when I go, and the wife always gets the veggie corn dog to go with her veggie hotdog. So, I have had a lot of them and agree they are great. But more curious is WHY are they so great? As far as I know, Doug does not make them in house, so they must come from a vendor and are probably frozen. Are there that many varieties of corn dogs or is the deliciousness mainly based on the fact that they come fresh from the fryer?
Jamie

I went on Saturday about 12:30pm and the line was around the corner, about 15-20 minutes but well worth the wait.

I had the duck sausage with an orange mustard/honey sauce and blue cheese and the duck fat fries, of course. It was awesome.

Does anyone know, and maybe it's been writen before but I cannot find it, if Hot Doug's makes their own sausages?

Shaggywillis wrote:Does anyone know, and maybe it's been writen before but I cannot find it, if Hot Doug's makes their own sausages?

Nope. But I understand many of his sausages are prepared to his specifications.

It would be interesting to know who makes them.

Shaggywillis wrote:It would be interesting to know who makes them.

He gets them from a variety of providers, all over the country, depending on the type of sausage. He's never told me exact providers, but he once said that much of his game meat comes from someone out west (Colorado, I think).

Jamieson22 wrote:

Bster wrote:
I have to say, somewhat surprisingly, that the last few times my "regular" sausage has been the Corn Dog. Even more stunning is the fact that I think Hot Doug's has the best Corn Dog in the City. I say this with the caveat that I don't try corn dogs on most my visits to hot dog places but the coating at HD's seems really fresh and flavorful to me and the encased dog seems of a high quality unlinke so many of the disgusting low-quality Corn Dog dogs I've had in the past. Really, really tasty.

You know, the corn dog at Hot Doug's always rides shotgun with a regular sausage on a bun when I go, and the wife always gets the veggie corn dog to go with her veggie hotdog. So, I have had a lot of them and agree they are great. But more curious is WHY are they so great? As far as I know, Doug does not make them in house, so they must come from a vendor and are probably frozen. Are there that many varieties of corn dogs or is the deliciousness mainly based on the fact that they come fresh from the fryer?
Jamie

Hot Doug's Corn Dog is, in my book, the 2nd best "kicker" in the city. I usually get a special of some sort, fries, a drink and a corn dog kicker. And i dont eat corn dogs anywhere else.

The first best kicker is at Al's and it's the hotdog. beef with a hotdog kicker followed by the knock out punch to Marios. pow.

djenks wrote:You know, the corn dog at Hot Doug's always rides shotgun with a regular sausage on a bun when I go, and the wife always gets the veggie corn dog to go with her veggie hotdog. So, I have had a lot of them and agree they are great. But more curious is WHY are they so great? As far as I know, Doug does not make them in house, so they must come from a vendor and are probably frozen. Are there that many varieties of corn dogs or is the deliciousness mainly based on the fact that they come fresh from the fryer?
Jamie

Hot Doug's Corn Dog is, in my book, the 2nd best "kicker" in the city. I usually get a special of some sort, fries, a drink and a corn dog kicker. And i dont eat corn dogs anywhere else. [/quote]

I'm pretty sure he just uses plain, garden variety Vienna corn dogs.