Now THIS is a Chicago Hot Dog.

Nothing beats an authentic Chicago hotdog. The poppyseed bun, florescent relish, sport pepper, Vienna beef, and salad on top are all a must.

Chicago Hot Dog Earrings

These are so authentic that they even have the tiny little sport peppers on top. https://www.viennabeef.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=39

Chicago Cubs, 2009 World Series Champs*

It's that time again, opening day for Cubs. Or as we Cubs fans like to call it, the first day of OUR year. The fact that we have called it this for the last 100 years and been wrong every year, does not deter us.

I was going to insert a self-flagulation photo here as this best represents the Cub's fan mentality but it was too bloody. So, I opted for a picture of Venezuelan stud and the player upon whom much of the Cub's fate will depend, Carlos Zambrano.

So, cheers Cub's fan. Here's to OUR year!

*PLEASSEEEE win this year!!!!! Puleaazeeee!!! PLEAAASE! I am so sick of hearing on sports channels how the Cubs haven't won since bla bla bla bla bla bla that I think I will enjoy the end of hearing that more than the actual victory.

Pepper and Eggs Friday

Here's a video that is unfortunately relevant these days when most people are broke and looking for ways to cut down on costs. This if from the series Great Depression cooking, hosted by 93 year old Clara, who shares with us recipes from her childhood during the great depression.



Pepper and egg sandwiches were popular on Fridays in my Chicago neighborhood when I was growing up, because many Catholic residents did not eat meat on Friday.


*The idea for this video was brazenly stolen from Margie and Edna's Basement (Stealing from the "elderly." I should be ashamed.)

Gypsies, Tramps, and Pizza

Leave it to Chicagoans to turn a discussion on crime and racism into a discussion on pizza. (Are Gypsies robbing the elderly in the Western Suburbs? Eh, whatever. Here's a picture of pizza!)

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chicago-suburbs/193890-do-near-west-suburbs-have-gypsy.html

Page 6 of the Riverside Illinois Newsletter is titled: "The Police Department likes noisy neighbors. It's one sure way to run Gypsies right out of town!" No, it's not a joke, it is an actual newsletter and was published in 2007. In it, the police officer says that there is a traveling group of Romani people, who can be identified by their dark skin and dark hair, who will use any ruse to get into your home to steal your valuables. He goes on to compare them to cockroaches.

Now, the original poster thought this was ridiculous but many of the subsequent commenters seem to validate this point. One commenter notes that they (the Gypsies) lived behind Fairyland Park (an amusement park that closed in the 70's) and often worked there. My brother worked there as a teenager so I emailed him to ask if he was, in fact, a Gypsy. I am eagerly awaiting his response so that I will know whether or not to hide my valuables when he visits.

To me, this whole things smells of racism and is somewhat shocking that in 2007 such an article would be published by a member of the Police Department. Do people scam the elderly? Of course they do, all the time. But to claim that it is exclusively by a band of Romani Gypsies is ludicrous.

Thoughts?


Important note: Villa Nova's really does have great pizza.

Polish food

This short video, taken at the Barbakan restaurant in Chicago shows that Polish food can be more than bland dumplings.