(from wikipedia via answers.com)
http://www.answers.com/topic/chicago-style-hot-dog
A Chicago-style hot dog– as served in the U.S. city of Chicago,
Illinois and its surrounding suburbs– is a steamed or boiled all-beef,
natural-casing hot dog on a poppy seed bun. It is topped with mustard,
onion, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or
wedges, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt[1]; but not ketchup.
History and more detailed information
The style, once known as a "Depression sandwich," is generally
acknowledged as having originated at Fluky's, a well-known Maxwell
Street stand, in 1929.
Chicago-style hot dogs are boiled or steamed to a temperature above
170 degrees Fahrenheit (~77 degrees Celsius) before adding the
toppings. They can also be grilled, though these are referred to as
"chardogs" in Chicagoland. The natural casing of the hot dogs give
them their distinctive "snap." The most common dog weighs 1/8 lb. and
is made with Vienna Beef.
Chicago-style hot dogs with all the toppings are sometimes called
"dragged through the garden" because of the unique combination of
condiments. Chicagoans traditionally shun ketchup because of the
belief that ketchup, unlike other condiments, overwhelms the flavor of
the dog itself.
Some Chicago restaurants choose to associate their publicity solely
with the hot dog, even though they serve many other items, including
the Maxwell Street Polish, gyros, Italian beef, pork chop sandwiches.
The Chicago-style hot dog is ubiquitous so publicity gimmicks are
often needed to attract customers to a restaurant. One of these
gimmicks is Superdawg's two giant hot dogs (Maurie and Flaurie) on the
roof of their building.
In popular culture
On an episode ("Nighthawks") of the television show Dead Like Me,
Rube, the character played by Mandy Patinkin, describes in detail a
Chicago-style hot dog. He contrasts it with a New York-style hot dog
in an effort to illustrate how death in Chicago is different than
death in any other place.
In an episode ("Brennan") of the
show Matlock, Ben is told how to make a Chicago-style hot dog, which
he proclaims is the best hot dog he has ever eaten.
http://www.answers.com/topic/vienna-beef
Vienna Beef is a manufacturer of the classic Chicago hot dog, as well
as Polish sausage and Italian beef, delicacies of independent Chicago-
style hot dog and beef stands. They also make a variety of deli meats.
Their factory resides at the intersection of Elston, Damen and
Fullerton avenues in the city, on the Chicago River. The company has
been located in Chicago since the Columbian Exposition in 1893.
Hot Dog Links:
http://www.answers.com/topic/chicago-style-hot-dog
http://www.answers.com/topic/vienna-beef
http://chicago.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=chicago&cdn=citie
stown
s&tm=20&f=21&su=p529.3.152.ip_p554.2.150.ip_p531.29.420.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=
0&zu=http%3A//www.viennabeef.com/culture/chgodoghistory.asp
History of the Chicago Hot Dog
The "Chicago Style" hot dog got its start from street cart hot dog
vendors during the hard times of the Great Depression. Money was
scarce, but business was booming for these entrepreneurs who offered a
delicious hot meal on a bun for only a nickel. The famous Chicago
Style Hot Dog was born! They'd start with a Vienna Beef hot dog,
nestle it in a steamed poppyseed bun and cover it with a wonderful
combination of toppings: yellow mustard, bright green relish, fresh
chopped onions, juicy red tomato wedges, a kosher-style pickle spear,
a couple of spicy sport peppers and finally, a dash of celery salt.
This unique hot dog creation with a "salad on top" and its memorable
interplay of hot and cold, crisp and soft, sharp and smooth, became
America's original fast food and a true Chicago institution.
http://www.viennabeef.com/culture/chgodoghistory.asp
hotdog stand
http://www.viennabeef.com/culture/standgallery/
Hot Dog Stand Gallery
Few buildings shout “Americana” quite like our favorite hot dog stands. From
big-name joints sporting giant fiberglass frankfurters and neon signs with
catchy dog-centric names to homey huts marked by little more than a few of
those familiar yellow Vienna Beef signs and umbrellas, we love our hot dog
stands. Here are a few that we think are worthy of our Frank Hall of Fame, if
not Frank Lloyd Wright.
Want to share a picture of your favorite stand? Click the link on the right
to submit your photo to Vienna Beef Hot Dog Stand Gallery.
Activities:
http://www.viennabeef.com/culture/kidscorner.asp
Printables
Family Fun
Vienna Family Fun
Just because we take hot dogs seriously doesn’t mean you have
to. We’ve put together a few frankly fun activities to keep kids
of all ages busy. So grab your favorite pencil or crayon, and
print this page out for maximum Vienna Beef merriment!
ViennAgrams
Unscramble the words, then make a new phrase out of the boldest
letters!
Liddle Riddles
What did the pickle say to the bun?
- I relish you.
What did the burger say to the hotdog?
-Let’s meat for lunch.
What did the condiments say to the bun?
-Lettuce stay together.
What did the bun ask the bank robber?
-Knead my dough?
Trivia
The world’s longest hot dog, according to the Guinness Book of
World Records, was 65.6 feet.
The Vienna Beef hot dog was introduced at the Chicago's
Columbian Exposition.
Most agree that the hamburger was introduced to America at the
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair by Fletcher Davis of East Texas,
though many disagree about where and when it was invented. He
told a reporter that he learned to cook his potatoes in Paris,
Texas, and some think that’s when America started calling the
treat “french fries.”
Think about it: Just as there are no dogs in hot dogs, there is
no ham in a hamburger.
We at Vienna Beef believe that Chicago is home to America’s
tastiest hot dogs, but the Second City is actually fourth in hot
dog sales, according to 2004 statistics. Los Angeles sells more
hot dogs than any town, followed by New York City and the San
Antonio area.
(source: the Sausage and Hot Dog Council, hot-dog.org)
In Toronto, hot dogs are the only street food allowed under the
law.
Takeru Kobayashi holds the world record as fastest hot dog
eater, having packed away 53.5 in 12 minutes.
Mickey Mouse’s first spoken line in an animated cartoon is said
to have been, “Hot dogs!”