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Mother's Day: Hot Doug's, A Chicago Hot Dog Institution

The scene:  Friday at 11:10 am.  TJ and I barely fit through the first glass door at Hot Doug's, 3324 North California, Chicago.  Woo hoo! The line is short today, so we don't have to wait outside in the bitter cold.  The smell of Doug's special duck-fat fries (available only on Fridays and Saturdays, mind you) hits us as we walk into the "Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium."  TJ, eager for his favorite hot dog in the world, starts to chant, "hot dog, hot dog, hot dog, pickle!"  I try to explain to him that we have to wait in line, because Hot Doug's is so famous that people from all over Chicago come here.  The guy in front of us leans back to inform TJ that Mommy is wrong, people from all over the COUNTRY visit Hot Doug's.  He begins to brag that 5 hours ago he was in his kitchen in Michigan when a Hot Doug's craving struck.  Now, here he is standing with us in line.  Are the hot dogs really that good, you ask?  Oh yeah.

Whether you get your dog steamed or char-grilled, or get anything from a traditional Chicago-Style Hot Dog (TJ's favorite - with a pickle, of course) to "The Elvis" (polish sausage), to "The Keira Knightley" (fire dog, which is Travelin' Mom's and Dad's favorite), to "The Pete Shelley" (vegetarian dog), everything is addictively delicious.  I like my dogs char-grilled - Doug, the owner, a culinary school graduate, personally stands behind the counter and courteously chats briefly with every customer despite the line-around-the-block.  He also has the cooking time down pat - a nice snap on the outside, and juicy on the inside.  Plus, every day there are several very creative, exotic, special dogs.  This week, specials include the BLT (bacon sausage with avocado mayonnaise, lettuce and tomatoes), and Apple-Habanero Chicken Sausage (with lime-ancho mayonnaise and habanero-jack cheese).  And the duck fat fries?  They are simply the best french fry I've ever had.  Perfectly crunchy and salty, not greasy.  The prices are ridiculously reasonable ($3.50 for a huge portion of duck fat fries, $1.75 for a hot dog, $2.50 for a fire dog, and around $7 for the specials). 

Hot Doug's is a great place to visit with kids, despite the consistently long lines.  It is open Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  My advice is to go early on Fridays (you've got to get the duck fat fries, and the waits on Saturdays are even longer), no later than 11:30 a.m.  The decor is kitschy with lots of Elvis tributes, cool music, and an always-festive mood.   If your visit is anywhere near any type of holiday, check the website before you trek out there - Doug is known to take frequent long weekends and vacations, and if there's no Doug, there's no Hot Doug's.  But hey, TJ and I can't complain - Doug is a true hot dog artist - he needs to recharge every once in a while.

Mother's Day: Kid-Friendly Restaurants

Eating out is a big part of traveling - whether it be to other cities or just a new local neighborhood.  Travelin' Junior has been to all kinds of establishments, and we've noticed a few trends about the types of restaurants he likes the best (the ones in which we can actually enjoy our meals, as opposed to the ones we have to flee abruptly because TJ is throwing a fit).  Here are some things we've found help make for kid-friendly restaurants:

1. Easily Accessible - Pick a restaurant that is easy to get to, with convenient or free parking, or within walking distance.  If you have a stroller in tow, consider whether there will be space to store it at the restaurant. Also, check in advance that a high chair/booster seat is available.
2. Yummy Menu - Ideally, the restaurant will have a kids menu with food your child will like, but also look for entrees on a regular menu that your kid might enjoy, like macaroni and cheese, grilled chicken strips, or a turkey burger.  A bread basket is great for young kids to nibble on, and free chips and salsa is always a big hit with slightly older kids.
3. Quick Service - Actually, this should be number 1 on the list.  Maybe numbers 1 through 5. It's just that important.
4. Lots To Look At-  This is a big one if dining with small children.  TJ's attention has been captured by TVs, fans, pretty lights, nice artwork, good music, other children dining in the same restaurant, looking out a window at a busy street, and facing toward the restaurant's door so he can welcome new customers. 
5. Bells & Whistles- Some restaurants really cater towards children.  Crayons/coloring pads, stickers, and special sippy cups go a long way toward making TJ happy.  One of our favorite Mexican restaurants made TJ a complimentary "baby pizza" and he was happy for, well, minutes.  Which can be like hours in family dining time. 

It's not always easy to pick out the kid-friendly restaurants when eating in an unfamiliar neighborhood or city.  You can do some advance research for kid-friendly restaurants at sites like lilaguide and yelp.  Or, do a walk by.  A good rule of thumb: if you see several other children eating in a restaurant, it's probably safe for you to venture in with your child too.  Also, don't think popular or trendy restaurants are necessarily off limits- just try them at off-times.  You've probably noticed that many restaurants have two waves:  the kids zone (around 5-7 p.m.) and the people-who-have-time-to-order-coffee-and-dessert zone (7 and later).  On the bright side, they never run out of the catch of the day when you're the first diners!

Bon appetite!