THE GREASY FOODIE: SUPERDAWG

The Greasy Foodie

The story begins blustry day Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008 in a cramped booth at a fake NYC deli in Nashville called Noshville. In between my wife, Rachel, and my brother, Michael, I sat across from my "cooler than me" cousins Mark and Sarah, and Sarah's just as cool husband, Danny. Mark, who lives the awesome life being a lawyer living in San Francisco working for Facebook, with his only downfall being his SEVERE lactardation..which has never been medically or scientifically proven to exist in Mark.. Sarah and Danny are foodies from NYC who have tried every dive "chicken finger" hut and "curry on a stick" in the big city. Danny and Sarah had discussed that they were trying to go to as many places from Bobby Flay's 'Throwdown' show as they could, and that there was one in Nashville we had to try.....a place that I had never heard of in my 13 years of living there..I will get to that adventure later.

I got an idea from my cool cousins idea. An idea became a hobby. And the hobby became an obsession. And thus produced the list.....a world-famous spreadsheet...of every restaurant that has ever been featured on Food Network and Travel Channel....every restaurant from the famous shows like "Throwdown", "Man V. Food", "Man v. Food Nation", "Food Feuds", "Food Wars", "Best Thing I Ever Ate", "Food Paradise" and "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" to the obscure "Best Food Ever", "Meat and Potatoes", and "101 Best Places to Chowdown", plus my additions of the restaurants of famous chefs, favorite catergories (burgers, wings, pizza, bbq, and sandwiches) and local places of legend. Names, cities, food they are famous for, and addresses. It was and still is an obsession. As of 11:31am on November 27, 2018, THE LIST HAS 4,660 RESTAURANTS ON IT...WITH A FEW OVERLAPS HERE AND THERE. And then over Pastrami Eggs Benedict at Nate N' Al's Deli in Beverly Hills, Hannah and Andrew, our good friends, gave me the idea of the blog. Document every place I went. And thus, "The Greasy Foodie" was born. I will log the places, the shows they are from, and what I had. So far, every place I have been has been amazing, except two, one being mediocre, and another being down right awful.

If there is a city you have been to, or are going to, or are from and want to know what from my list is in the city, send me a email at agmarks@gmail.com

Friday, October 3, 2014

SUPERDAWG

FROM HOT DOG PARADISE

6363 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646

http://www.superdawg.com/

""Superdawgs" voted best Chicago hot dogs – (smokey & garlicy)"

Chicago is a culinary mecca that is only gaining noterity and acclaim. Every year a new fantastic gastrointestinal kingdom opens. However, Chicago is a city that takes pride in its history and traditions and this cannot be more true than it is for its food. Chicago pizza, italian beef, and hot dogs are staples and landmarks of this Midwestern empire.

Chicago style hot dogs are unique, distinct, and cannot be altered or substituted….and for gods sake…NO KETCHUP! A Chicago style hot dog is defined on Wikipedia as "is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seedbun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt. The complete assembly of a Chicago hot dog is said to be "dragged through the garden" due to the many toppings. The method for cooking the hot dog itself varies depending on the vendor's preference. Most often they are steamed, water-simmered, or grilled over charcoal (in which case they are referred to as "char-dogs"). The canonical recipe does not include ketchup, and there is a widely shared, strong opinion among many Chicagoans and aficionados that ketchup is unacceptable.^[A number of Chicago hot dog vendors do not offer ketchup as a condiment.

A Chicago style hot dog is incredible and unique, and once you have had one, it's hard to go back to normal hot dogs as the tastes and smells that come from a Chicago hot dog. It is addictive and initiates cravings no matter what time of day. and Superdawg makes them the best.

THere is not a hot dog restaurant in Chicago, rather a restaurant in Chicago more beloved than Superdawg. The hot dogs are perfect, the fries are well done, and the experience is outstanding. Your meal comes in a box with a hot dog, well done fries, a giant pickle spear, and pickled tomatoes….an adult sized happy meal!! This place is a landmark in Chicago where you see many different generation sitting together having a delicious meal while retelling the story of their first Superdawg experience. People bringing their kids and grandkids saying "your father/grandfather/mother/grandmother brought me here".

Superdawg is a Chicago and American culinary institution that cannot and should not be missed. It is one of those places that everyone should it eat at once in their lives!

THE GREASY FOODIE