“The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated”

–Eliza Doolittle

The best there is will always be the best no matter how it is dressed! So says Eliza, so it shall be!

I am not accustom to bestowing acclaim upon New York Dogs BUT when it is a Vienna dog dressed up in Gucci or Pradha … the flower girl blossoms into high society with all the attention of the male persuasion. SO … we will bridge this ‘lady-flower girl’ continuum by offering …

THE OFF BROADWAY DOG

You’ll Need:

Vienna Beef Franks                 Plain Hot Dog Buns

Dusseldorf Mustard                Sauerkraut

Directions:

“I am sorry I am unable to answer the phone right now, I am on vacation! Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will return your call when I return!”

Destination: Hawaii

Arrival: Dinner Time

Itinerary:

Botanic Gardens                                            Whale Watching                                                   Black Sand Beach                                          Hawaii Volcanoes National Park               Wailua Waterfall                                           Dole Plantation

Hank’s Haute Dogs                                       Waimea Beach                  Hula Dancing

THE ALOHA DOG

You’ll Need:

Vienna Beef Franks                                                                                         Hot Dog Buns

½ cup Pineapple-chopped                                                                   1 tbsp Lime Juice

Teriyaki Sauce                                                                Cayenne, Salt & Black Pepper

1 cup ea. Red Onion, Red Bell Pepper and Scallions-chopped

Directions:

Toss pineapple, onion, pepper and scallions with lime juice and season with cayenne, salt & pepper. Place franks and buns on grill until both have a nice char; brushing frank with teriyaki sauce. Top with pineapple salsa.

Complete your luau with this delicious side dish:

Ambrosia Salad

You’ll Need:

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

1 can pineapple chunks, drained

1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

1 cup coconut

2 cups grapes (green & red)

1/2 cup whipped cream, whipped

Directions:

Mix together in bowl, let set overnight.

Relishing Thursday … ONLY 3 days left

To Celebrate Vienna Beef now serving Homer’s Ice Cream from our new walk up window I thought an ice cream (based) hot dog recipe was appropriate!

THE NEOPOLITAN

“On Monday when the sun is hot,

I wonder to myself a lot,

‘Now is it true, or is it not,

that what is which and which is what?’”

–A.A. Hodge

Apparently, I pondered too long and missed the entire day!

For Monday …. THE CASTRO … no, not him!

Directions:

This dog dictates the perfect side dish … boniatos fritos!!

You’ll Need:

Sweet Potatoes                              Sugar

Directions:

Peel the sweet potato and cut it into slices approximately half an inch thick. Fry them at about 365ºF until they begin to turn golden, approx. 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Just before serving, fry again at 390ºF until golden

brown. Sprinkle with sugar.

Relishing …Tuesday

Day 3 of 8 …

If you’re like me you are a fiend for nachos … don’t know why but they are the top of my food chain list! I’m always looking for some new side dish to supplement all the goodness I don’t get from my staple.

Wow, you don’t say .. there’s a dog for that? Really?

The TACO DOG

You’ll need:

Vienna Beef Franks

Flour Tortillas

Shredded Lettuce

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Salsa

Sour Cream

Directions:

Slice frank lengthwise and place on grill next to flour tortilla. Grill both long enough for a good char then place frank in tortilla. Top with shredded lettuce, Cheddar Cheese, salsa and sour cream.

Wanna be wild? Try a new SALSA!

Mango

Corn

Pico de gallo

Guacamole

Black Bean

Relishing Monday …

Day two of eight ...The ELEMENTAL DOG

You’ll need:

Vienna Beef Franks                Potato Buns

Five Spice Powder                   Hoisin or Plum Sauce

Cucumber-sliced                     Scallions

Cilantro

Sprinkle franks with Five Spice Powder and place on grill. While franks are grilling brush them with Hoisin. Serve on toasted potato bun topping with cucumbers, scallions, cilantro and additional Hoisin. Recipe thanks to Food Network.

Vienna Fun Fact #1

Did you know?? Five Spice Powder is an Asian blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and ground fennel seeds and are said to represent the 5 elements …

Relishing Sunday … Sundays are for Siestas

Because you are a hot dog aficionado I don’t have to tell you that July is National Hot Dog Month, right?

Of course, right! You’ve spent the last 21 nights (or lunches) running around to all your favorite stands or rendezvous to indulge in the frank fever! Now, with about 8 (and counting) days left you’re excitement for encased meat is waning. It’s as understandable as FOOD besting Adam Richman, it’s rare … but it happens. There are only so many times you can eat and enjoy the same dog, bun and condiment combination!

So, let me help! For the next 8 days (… a week … good song!) I’ll post some new or obscure or oldie-but-goodie frank recipe so you can enjoy the rest of this flavorful month!

First up … THE SAMOYED!

Russian Potato Salad

6 to 8 med. potatoes, peeled and cut up

1 cup sour cream

1 pkg. frozen peas and carrots

1 cup mayonnaise (approx.)

1 lg. onion, finely sliced

2 eggs, hard boiled, sliced

Salt and Pepper

Partially cook potatoes, add peas and carrots and finish cooking until easily pierced with fork. Drain. While still warm, add onion slices, mayonnaise, sour cream and sliced eggs. Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Beet Horseradish

1 cup finely grated peeled fresh horseradish

3 cooked med chopped & peeled beets

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup cider vinegar

Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper. Puree all for 30 to 40 seconds. Let stand, covered, at room temperature for at least 1 hour.

Relishing Tomorrow … The Elemental or Boardwalk!

In a rare photo op-  a few members of the Chicago-based gang, Chicago Style, are seen here savoring a few quiet moments together before hitting the streets of Chicago!

The gang was good enough to pose for a few snapshots for fans … as always Tom A. To and

O. Nion were center of attention!

In a produce to meat moment, Frank, Dill, Sports and Pepper laugh about their most recent frolics in the garden!

Family Photos thanks to Vienna Excitement, Utah

Relishing Next Week …

If it hasn’t been obvious from the get-go, I am not a Chicago native … no, not even an indigenous Land-o-Lincoln-er. I am from that land west of the Mississippi; that mountainous and rugged terra firma made a part of the United States in 1848 through the Mexican Cession.  I am from the WEST! Think pioneers, covered wagons, black beans, cowboys, Indians, tumble weeds, deserts, spicy food … the whole bit! That’s me!

Being from the WEST there is a certain pride about knowing “things” about the WEST! Things like the Rocky Mountains containing over 100 individual mountain ranges such as the Bear River, Bitterroot, Tetons, Uinta, and Wind River Ranges; just to name a few.

Or that … the Great Salt Lake (UT) is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere.

Or,  … the difference between BLM, USFS and USDI … (Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior) and who is appropriate to call when cows appear on public lands. BTW, it’s the BLM.

Or, the difference between an Ancho 101, an Ancho San Luis and an Ancho San Martin Hybrid. They are all mild peppers perfect for stuffing and chili rellenos but are distinct in their shapes and coloration.

So, with this string of consciousness and me priding myself on my knowledge of peppers, I was not prepared for my taste buds’ introduction to this oddity … this green entity you Chicagoans call a

SPORT PEPPER!

My mission: conquer the elusive nature of the sport pepper!

Easy, right… not really. I did have to do some digging. What I found was not provided by Wikipedia or even the Vienna Beef website (this is being worked on as we speak …) but by a random article written by the Chicago Suntimes (see links). It would seem these little gems are, “a member of the cayenne family, the Mexican-grown peppers…”(http://www.suntimes.com/chicago/chicagopedia/1701628,CST-NWS-pedia05.article).

Well, that’s good to know, but I really would like to know more. Continue the investigation! Google® , make it so! Well, well, well … what did we find! According to the Tomato Growers Supply Company:

“This Capsicum annum type of pepper is popular for its use as a pickled pepper to go on hot dogs and other sandwiches. It is especially well known as an essential condiment in a Chicago-style hot dog. Peppers resemble Tabasco peppers, but the Sport pepper is larger, about 1-1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. They are medium-hot and produced in great abundance on sturdy plants. (http://www.tomatogrowers.com/hot5.htm).”

Thank you, Tomato Growers (?)!

Now, the Suntimes claims it’s a member of the cayenne family and Tomato Growers say it resembles a Tabasco pepper … And then there’s Capsicum annum? What is the truth?? Well, in my experience Latin, the language of science, never lies … we have a lead! Let’s us visit that epic and presently over-looked childhood bible of mine, Encyclopedia Britannica.

Capsicum, a member of the nightshade family-Solanaceae, is cultivated throughout the most of the world for their edible, pungent fruits-PEPPERS.  Capiscum annuum refers to the species of pepper; in this case it refers to the sweet peppers. Commonly Capiscum annuum is commonly called a serrano pepper.

A mature Serrano can be green, red, brown, orange, or yellow but while immature they are green. They have a crisp, biting flavor that is hotter than that of a Jalapeño. Typically they are eaten raw, however when they are pickled they are commonly known as SPORT PEPPERS.

Hallelujah! The lineage of the sport pepper has been resolved … I feel a little closer to becoming a Chicagoan … (yet not quite enough to call myself a Mid-Westerner, yet). 

Relishing Next Week …

Amid the recent Chicagoland storms rumors surfaced concerning the whereabouts of B. Frank’s family friend, confidant and fellow member of the city’s famous “Chicago Style” gang, G. Relish. Law enforcement in conjunction with B. Frank, made a publ ic statement Friday afternoon about the possible disappearance of his long-time friend.

“Relish has never not been by my side …it is a shock that he was absent [speaking of an engagement Chicago Style had in the city]. I can only assume something has happened. I implore the citizens of Chicago … if you have any information about Relish, please help!”

It is known that G. Relish was kayaking the Chicago River Wednesday, June 23^rd in the late afternoon and was last seen on the river near California Park (Irving Park Rd and California Ave) when the city was hit by one of the strongest storms of the season. Tornado warnings were issued while torrential rain and winds upwards of 80 mph wreaked havoc on the city and its outlying suburbs. There were no reports of injuries but Relish never showed up at the engagement he and Chicago Style had that Friday.  B. Frank got city law enforcement involved Friday evening.

Inquiries and investigations were ongoing throughout the weekend and into today’s early morning hours. This morning around 4:15 a.m. G. Relish was sighted by an off-duty police officer near the intersection of South Federal St. and West Cullerton St. in Chinatown. G. Relish, looking haggard and weary, was apparently making his way to the Red Line ‘EL’ when the officer recognized him. Relish was taken to the nearest hospital where he received treatment for exposure and then to his West Loop home.

Following a brief reunion with Relish, B. Frank had this to say to worried Chicago Style fans, “We are all relieved to have Relish safe and we thank you for keeping him in your thoughts!”

Law enforcement determined that Relish was indeed still on the river when the storm hit Wednesday. He was unable to fight the strong winds and current which took him down to West 18^th Street where he eventually freed himself of both his kayak and the current’s hold. Coming ashore at Ping Tom Memorial Park Relish apparently lost consciousness until late Friday evening. Upon regaining consciousness, according to Relish, he made his way in the direct he thought was home. He was however confused due to a soft blow to the head received while still on the river and was really headed in the opposite direction. He stated he finally regained his bearings when he stopped in at a hot dog stand somewhere just south of Chinatown were he asked for food and assistance.

“I was jolted back to myself when the hot dog I was offered touched my taste buds …nothing can bring you back like the taste of home, like the taste of a Vienna dog,” offered Relish when asked how he came to be aware of his surroundings.

G. Relish is home recovering but retains his familiar attitude, “There’s a whole new meaning to ‘going green’ after you’ve spent hours being tossed around in the Chicago River. I was green before, now I’m positively neon!”

Relishing Next Week …