Where are you going for National Hotdog Day (Jul 23)?

You can find me at GNR Rand Redhots in Des Plaines sometime around 1PM

I'll probably go to Redhot Ranch, but if I decide to pick up fish for dinner, I may show up at Rand Red Hots, too.

Some dogs billed as "Chicago-style" are available here in St. Louis, but I really enjoy the spirit of Steve's Hot Dogs on the Hill - (in a clear oversight, not named for our own stevez), but instead for its proprietor (some other Steve). I guess the other Steve is St. Louis' answer to Doug Sohn. He serves a St. Louis dog, described thusly: a "smoked and grilled dog with grilled onions and grilled bell peppers, hot peppers, bacon, provolone." I have suspicions that the promised provolone will be Provel, so I might as well order the two-dog combo and pair that one with a smoked “Stev-Imo” billed as "The Hill’s very own Imo’s Salsiccia. Smoked to perfection. With your choice of toppings." The last dog I had at Steve's Hot Dogs on the Hill was topped with mac 'n cheese and french-fried onions, which I might not order again.

On the other hand, I could head down to Salume Beddu and get one of their house-made dogs, a natural casing beauty with sott-acetto and grainy mustard. . . . and some salsiccia. Or I might hit Di Gregorio's, Volpi (since 1902 - they have a full deli and frozen rabbit as well as salume), or Urzi's for some sausages and Fazio's for some bread and head home to grill it - on the driveway. Seriously, I mean on the pavement. It's hot here, folks!

I'm missing Chicago's cool summers. Still, it is nice to be able to find all these good places in one area-The Hill- and to be able to find parking almost directly in front of each store. Take that, Chicago!

Every day is Hot Dog day around here.

I almost stopped at Red Hot Ranch on Western, but decided to keep driving east to the Vienna Beef outlet store, where I picked up ingredients to celebrate the date this evening with Mrs. JiLS. It was a good excuse to get there before they move; I've certainly taken them for granted over the years.

Related Info: Vienna beef employees and a customer were talking about Vienna's upcoming move; I overheard that, as of yet, there is no space in the new location set aside for a retail store, but that might change in the future.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:I almost stopped at Red Hot Ranch on Western, but decided to keep driving east to the Vienna Beef outlet store, where I picked up ingredients to celebrate the date this evening with Mrs. JiLS. It was a good excuse to get there before they move; I've certainly taken them for granted over the years.

Related Info: Vienna beef employees and a customer were talking about Vienna's upcoming move; I overheard that, as of yet, there is no space in the new location set aside for a retail store, but that might change in the future.

Where are they moving to?

Vienna Beef plans to move to the former Best Kosher Foods facility at 1000 W. Pershing.

Its not only National Hot Dog day, but its also Wednesday - which means Weiner Wednesday at GNR Weiner and Still Champion in Evanston! (Between 3pm and 5pm, Hot Dogs and fries for $2.00 - good hot dogs of any kind you want, steamed, grilled, charred etc...along with a heaping of the best fries in the Chicagoland area).

c8w

And be sure to mark your calendars for the Second Annual Chicago Hot Dog Fest, August 9-10, corner of Clark & LaSalle near the Chicago History Museum.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Related Info: Vienna beef employees and a customer were talking about Vienna's upcoming move; I overheard that, as of yet, there is no space in the new location set aside for a retail store, but that might change in the future.

There was a small retail space when Best Kosher Foods was there,although nowhere near as large as the space Vienna currently provides now.

Just to follow up with an on-point observation, the 8:1 natural casing hot dogs I purchased from the Vienna Beef factory store today were delicious. Hot Dog Day 2014 is in the bin.

Artie wrote:

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Related Info: Vienna beef employees and a customer were talking about Vienna's upcoming move; I overheard that, as of yet, there is no space in the new location set aside for a retail store, but that might change in the future.

There was a small retail space when Best Kosher Foods was there,although nowhere near as large as the space Vienna currently provides now.

The retail space was actually quite large -- the multi-windowed room faced Pershing Avenue (this was late 70's through early 90's). However, I don't remember there being an eat-in area at all.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Artie wrote:

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Related Info: Vienna beef employees and a customer were talking about Vienna's upcoming move; I overheard that, as of yet, there is no space in the new location set aside for a retail store, but that might change in the future.

There was a small retail space when Best Kosher Foods was there,although nowhere near as large as the space Vienna currently provides now.

The retail space was actually quite large -- the multi-windowed room faced Pershing Avenue (this was late 70's through early 90's). However, I don't remember there being an eat-in area at all.

Best's retail store and deli (you could buy prepared hot dogs and sandwiches) was open until Sara Lee closed the entire facility in 2009. You can see some photos from 2008 in this old post. The only place to eat was a picnic table outside.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Artie wrote:There was a small retail space when Best Kosher Foods was there,although nowhere near as large as the space Vienna currently provides now.

The retail space was actually quite large -- the multi-windowed room faced Pershing Avenue (this was late 70's through early 90's). However, I don't remember there being an eat-in area at all.

=R=

My recollection is from the mid 2000's. Yes,it faced Pershing Rd. There were a couple of freezer cases in the windows as you walked in and then some refrigerated cases along one wall. On the other side of those cases was the counter where they took orders and sold bread. At the front of that counter looking out towards the street was a small area where they sold a small selection of sandwiches.
Maybe Rene G can weigh in as I remember him posting about it with pictures.

Artie wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Artie wrote:There was a small retail space when Best Kosher Foods was there,although nowhere near as large as the space Vienna currently provides now.

The retail space was actually quite large -- the multi-windowed room faced Pershing Avenue (this was late 70's through early 90's). However, I don't remember there being an eat-in area at all.

=R=

My recollection is from the mid 2000's. Yes,it faced Pershing Rd. There were a couple of freezer cases in the windows as you walked in and then some refrigerated cases along one wall. On the other side of those cases was the counter where they took orders and sold bread. At the front of that counter looking out towards the street was a small area where they sold a small selection of sandwiches.
Maybe Rene G can weigh in as I remember him posting about it with pictures.

Yes, check his post above and follow the link to the post of which you type.

I have a strong family connection to the retail shop. My dad's first boss (from when he was a kid) ran it when I was in my early 20's, which is why I remember it pretty clearly (along with the sandwiches he used to shove in my pockets).

=R=

Where did I celebrate National Hotdog Day (Jul 23)? The same place I've celebrated hot dogs for most of my life- Gene and Jude's.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:I almost stopped at Red Hot Ranch on Western, but decided to keep driving east to the Vienna Beef outlet store, where I picked up ingredients to celebrate the date this evening with Mrs. JiLS. It was a good excuse to get there before they move; I've certainly taken them for granted over the years.

Related Info: Vienna beef employees and a customer were talking about Vienna's upcoming move; I overheard that, as of yet, there is no space in the new location set aside for a retail store, but that might change in the future.

So, if this ends up being the case (I sure hope not) what other locations might one be able to purchase the skinned version of the hot dogs since most supermarkets don't carry that?

A few days late for National Hot Dog Day, Rand Red Hots hit a hot dog high note.

Kman wrote:
So, if this ends up being the case (I sure hope not) what other locations might one be able to purchase the skinned version of the hot dogs since most supermarkets don't carry that?

I get mine at E & M (Elegance in Meats) most of the time. They carry both the 8:1 and 4:1 sizes in both uncased and natural casing.

E & M
Elegance in Meats
3135 Dundee Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 480-6328