where's the poppy seed bun and the pickle spear.  Sliced pickles don't count.  I think I see celery salt, which is most important.  Also it needs sport peppers, not those chopped things.

That hot dog looks good, but it is not a Chicago Dog

Tell me they at least use Vienna All Beef Franks

     All in good fun, but we're protective.. LOL

---born and raised in Chicago and on Chicago Dogs

@EscapeRocks posted:

where's the poppy seed bun and the pickle spear.  Sliced pickles don't count.  I think I see celery salt, which is most important.  Also it needs sport peppers, not those chopped things.

That hot dog looks good, but it is not a Chicago Dog

Tell me they at least use Vienna All Beef Franks

     All in good fun, but we're protective.. LOL

---born and raised in Chicago and on Chicago Dogs

No, it isn't a legitimate Chicago dog, but it is the closest thing I've seen since the demise of Hot Diggity Dog in Lancaster, PA.  I could sit there, in sight of the station and Cork tower and just enjoy.  HDD did use Vienna All Beef Franks.

I still miss that place. 

George

Where is the Dog House Grille?  or is one of the food trucks/wagons at the fairgrounds?

@Nation Wide Lines posted:

Where is the Dog House Grille?  or is one of the food trucks/wagons at the fairgrounds?

It's one of the food trucks, typically parked in front of the Orange Hall (towards Purple).

George

I first encountered a Chicago Style Hot dog when traveling through O'Hare Airport years ago. Whenever possible, I would treat myself to one or two. It's a great combination. The past two years on vacation in Florida, I came across two hot dog joints claiming to have ties with the windy city. Last year it was Portillo's in Brandon Florida, just outside Tampa. Great dogs with all the correct fixins. This year we were staying in Venice and I discovered Tony's Chicago Beef stand and immediately had two Chicago dogs with again all the correct fixins. And both used Vienna all beef dogs.  There is something special about that combination. We will be going back to Venice next year and we will certainly be back at Tony's.

BAH! The Papaya Stand in New York is the ONLY place to get a hot dog.

James Coney Island, in the Houston area, around since 1923, does a proper Chicago dog. I always have them hold the tomatoes. Tomatoes on a hot dog?

They use Nolan Ryan all beef hot dogs!

The Hotdog Program...

Gray's Papaya is the place you are talking about, the original is in 72nd and Broadway. Ate there more than a few times on Saturdays when my son was attending Juilliard's pre college program. They have others, but this was the original and it is the best.

I had one of the hot dogs from the food truck and it was really good and filling (I am a traditionalist, mustard and kraut only).

My favorite was a hot dog stand right outside of the old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. My dad and I would get couple before the game. I remember how finely diced the onions were of all things.  BTW, no ketchup on dogs, ever!

I'm partial to the soft pretzels myself. Every day that I have attended York, a soft pretzel has been in my hand(unless they weren't open/ready yet or I was leaving). The food trucks I have eaten from are definitely a welcome sight. I know in 2018's October they had the roast beef sandwich truck over by the member halls, I think I had a few of those.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

I'm partial to the soft pretzels myself. Every day that I have attended York, a soft pretzel has been in my hand(unless they weren't open/ready yet or I was leaving). The food trucks I have eaten from are definitely a welcome sight. I know in 2018's October they had the roast beef sandwich truck over by the member halls, I think I had a few of those.

I always have a soft pretzel too but this year the one in the orange hall was terrible.  That being said, the Italian Sausage was delicious.

@MartyE posted:

I always have a soft pretzel too but this year the one in the orange hall was terrible.  That being said, the Italian Sausage was delicious.

If I had gone this time around, I would definitely have had one of those Marty. Good eating. We'll have to speak to management about the pretzel pandemic. It's not that hard to make pretzels, but I guess it is really easy to screw them up.

The pretzel guy outside was pretty good, it isn't a NYC style pretzel, but I had one for lunch on Friday and with mustard was great.

The only food I bought on the fairgrounds this time around was from the 3 Hogs / Hog Trough BBQ food truck.  I thought it was really good.  Even tried their "Satan's Spit" sauce...   I hope they come back in the Fall.

I've had the hot dogs and Italian sausage there in the past and always enjoyed them, too.

Andy

A good thread, you guys have your priorities straight.

I have been coming to York for twenty years. Always got a hot dog in the Orange Hall.

Last time someone said try the crab cake they are great. Being from Baltimore, I had always passed them by. But, I tried it, and it was very very good.

Now, lunch is a crab cake sandwich along with their very good lemonade.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

I'm partial to the soft pretzels myself.

...Which reminds me that we have a couple of local bakeries that are cranking out pretzel buns for sausages/dogs.  Probably not new to other parts of the country, but around here it's...muy caliente! for brats, especially.  Slathered a local horseradish/mustard and washed down with a local craft brewski.  Oh my!  Now, if the weather around here would just finally warm up to justify firing up the grill!...

I  went all in at the Hog Trough BBQ truck for a Captain’s trough with Old bay mac and cheese, smashed crab hush puppies, crab cake, etc.  It was very good.

Artyoung.
before the 72nd street papaya stand became popular it originally was called Orange Julius. The hot dogs and papaya drinks are a NYC tradition.

@texgeekboy posted:

My favorite was a hot dog stand right outside of the old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. My dad and I would get couple before the game. I remember how finely diced the onions were of all things.  BTW, no ketchup on dogs, ever!

Certainly you've patronized The Dirty "O", right?

George

@MartyE posted:

The Hotdog Program...

Thank you, Marty!!!!!

Hot Dogs!  God Bless America!!!!

That's what I'm talkin' about!

George

@G3750 posted:

Thank you, Marty!!!!!

Hot Dogs!  God Bless America!!!!

That's what I'm talkin' about!

George

I was still working on the road when this came out.  I had cravings for hotdogs for about a month after and ate them on my travels.  I got to visit the Varsity in Atlanta.  Cool shop.  If I recall I had a hotdog at a dinner near Elkhart Lake and they put butter and mayo on the bun.

I will be having hot dogs I think Friday. It will be chicken breast tonight for dinner.

Whenever I am back in Central PA, I bring a cooler with me.  Typically, I leave with a pack or two of Berk's Hot Dogs (all beef) on ice.  They are IMHO, right up there with Hebrew National or Nathan's (both excellent all beef hot dogs).  I recently found out that you Vienna All Beef Hot Dogs can be ordered, but not sure about the quantity (I can't use or store dozens of packages) or the shipping.  That's under investigation.

If you're not grilling them, I like boiling them in beer.  Serve on Martin's long rolls.  Nathan's used to make a deli mustard, but it seems to have been discontinued.    It was perfect for dogs.

Hot dogs!!!  Yeah, baby!  Like I died and went to heaven.

George

After checking prices for hotel room in York and surrounding area for the fall, a hot dog maybe the only thing I can afford to eat!  Thursday was normal but Friday night the prices go up almost 300% in some hotels.  Not sure what else is going on there that weekend.

I recall having some good hot dogs at the outdoor food tent at the Billy Budd hotel back in the early 2000's when I first started going to York (and they still had outdoor sales (or even a show) at the Billy Budd).  Unfortunately, that show declined over the years and the outdoor food tent went away shortly after I started going to York.  I do love a good hot dog! 

NWL

@MartyE posted:

After checking prices for hotel room in York and surrounding area for the fall, a hot dog maybe the only thing I can afford to eat!  Thursday was normal but Friday night the prices go up almost 300% in some hotels.  Not sure what else is going on there that weekend.

I noticed this too. Even thursday night prices were up $30-40/night over what they had been steadily for the last couple yorks.

@G3750 posted:

Whenever I am back in Central PA, I bring a cooler with me.  Typically, I leave with a pack or two of Berk's Hot Dogs (all beef) on ice.  They are IMHO, right up there with Hebrew National or Nathan's (both excellent all beef hot dogs).  I recently found out that you Vienna All Beef Hot Dogs can be ordered, but not sure about the quantity (I can't use or store dozens of packages) or the shipping.  That's under investigation.

If you're not grilling them, I like boiling them in beer.  Serve on Martin's long rolls.  Nathan's used to make a deli mustard, but it seems to have been discontinued.    It was perfect for dogs.

Hot dogs!!!  Yeah, baby!  Like I died and went to heaven.

George

Love Chicago dogs. It's been a while but I looked into ordering some Vienna All Beef Dogs and the shipping was a killer. I actually had my cart ready to go with the dogs, rolls, sport peppers, etc. but then realized shipping was going to quadruple the total order price.

May have to revisit this...this thread has started a major hot dog jonesing. 

@johnstrains posted:

Love Chicago dogs. It's been a while but I looked into ordering some Vienna All Beef Dogs and the shipping was a killer. I actually had my cart ready to go with the dogs, rolls, sport peppers, etc. but then realized shipping was going to quadruple the total order price.

Tip: When ordering from Vienna Franks in Chicago use the cheapest shipping option even though it may not be the intuitive choice especially if you are far from Chicago. Even with the cheap shipping, you'll get them in a couple of days well packed in ice-gels.  We do it all the time. Yes the total cost is still is expensive, but then you'll get a real Chicago hotdog with buns, celery salt, etc. !

Sorry for continuing this thread off-topic from trains but the Chicago Vienna Frank is the gold standard in this vitally important food group.

@Bruce Brown posted:

Tip: When ordering from Vienna Franks in Chicago use the cheapest shipping option even though it may not be the intuitive choice especially if you are far from Chicago. Even with the cheap shipping, you'll get them in a couple of days well packed in ice-gels.  We do it all the time. Yes the total cost is still is expensive, but then you'll get a real Chicago hotdog with buns, celery salt, etc. !

Sorry for continuing this thread off-topic from trains but the Chicago Vienna Frank is the gold standard in this vitally important food group.

Good tip, Bruce.

I just went over to the Vienna site and that's fairly reasonable. They also have some great combo packs. I can't remember where I was looking before (it could have been amazon?) but direct from Vienna is the way to to.

Okay...need to get back to trains...somebody post one of those Heinz Vat Cars.

@Bruce Brown posted:

Tip: When ordering from Vienna Franks in Chicago use the cheapest shipping option even though it may not be the intuitive choice especially if you are far from Chicago. Even with the cheap shipping, you'll get them in a couple of days well packed in ice-gels.  We do it all the time. Yes the total cost is still is expensive, but then you'll get a real Chicago hotdog with buns, celery salt, etc. !

Sorry for continuing this thread off-topic from trains but the Chicago Vienna Frank is the gold standard in this vitally important food group.

Thanks Bruce!  You have just made my week!

George

I missed York this Spring. I like this post. But IMO, you can't beat a Costco hot dog. No way, no how, never.

Gerry

@gmorlitz posted:

But IMO, you can't beat a Costco hot dog. No way, no how, never.

Gerry

Agreed that the Costco (super-large) hotdog with a soft drink for $1.50 is by far one of the best food deals across North America and Hawaii. Been there, done that, countless times.

I live in Chicagoland & love Vienna Beef hot dogs.  

Besides local restaurants, they are also available at most local grocery stores.  

When fixing them at home, I like them with ketchup, mustard, & sweet pickle relish on a poppy seed bun.

At restaurants, I also have tomato’s, pickle spears, lettuce, celery salt, & shredded cheese added (along with the K, M, & R).

I found a Vienna Beef metal 12” x 8” sign on the net that I will display in my basement train room.

Vienna Beef hot dogs are an essential food for rail fanning & model railroading in Chicagoland, The Nation’s Rail Capitol !!!

@G3750,

Sorry, I don't know what the "Dirty O" is or was.  I actually spent a lot of time around Pitt during my college years in the early 70s, and didn't run into then, of course Forbes Field was long gone.

@texgeekboy posted:

@G3750,

Sorry, I don't know what the "Dirty O" is or was.  I actually spent a lot of time around Pitt during my college years in the early 70s, and didn't run into then, of course Forbes Field was long gone.

The "Dirty O" was a nickname for Essie's Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland at the corner of Forbes and South Boquet St.  When I went to Pitt, we just called it "The O" or "The Original."  The pandemic ended it for good.   They were known for their natural-casing hot dogs (and their oh-so-satisfying snap when you bit into one), enormous portions of french fries (I could never finish a small order by myself, and it was always amusing when a tourist ordered a large order and got a cafeteria tray full of fries ), and inexpensive cheese pizzas ($2.99 + tax for a 12" cheese pie when I was going there in the early 90's -- toppings is where they got you, so we mostly stuck to cheese only).

And since we are talking ways to enjoy hot dogs, I highly recommend Dickinson's Sweet 'n' Hot Pepper & Onion Relish.  It is fabulous on hot dogs just by itself.  The heat is very mild (at least to me), and it is more on the sweet side.

Andy

@G3750, @Andy Hummell,

Oh, that place.  Of course I’ve been there, I just called it The Original.

@texgeekboy posted:

@G3750, @Andy Hummell,

Oh, that place.  Of course I’ve been there, I just called it The Original.

Yeah, I don't know where the nickname "The Dirty O" came from.  The only place I ever heard that nickname was on that PBS show that MartyE posted.  I spent a LOT of time in Oakland both going to and working for Pitt and I never heard that nickname in the 5+ years I spent in Oakland.

Andy