Those celebrating National Hot Dog Day in the Windy City will find hot dogs topped with tomatoes, pickles, peppers, relish, onions and mustard — but not ketchup.
For many Chicagoans, ketchup on a hot dog is not only unnecessary, it’s traditionally unacceptable.
“There’s always been an argument: do you put ketchup on the hot dog?” Chicago Chef Steve Chiappetti told NBC Chicago. “And honestly, you don’t.”
The executive chef at State and Lake Tavern, Chiappetti is also a lifelong Chicago resident, born and raised on the city’s South Side to a family with decades of experience as butchers.
Chiappetti said ketchup was originally used to cover up the flavor of poor-quality meat in hot dogs.
“During the depression, going back to Upton Sinclair and the old Chicago stockyards, actually when it was made, some of the meats weren’t always good,” Chiappetti said.
Not serving ketchup used to be a source of pride, as it was a symbol of higher quality hot dogs, he added. According to Chiappetti, the decision to omit ketchup from the Chicago-style hot dog revolved around quality and taste.
The lunch menu at his restaurant includes a classic Chicago hot dog. Located in the loop, the restaurant often attracts tourists, who Chiappetti said often request ketchup.
“Of course we have to say no!” Chiappetti said. “We say ages 8 and under, you can have ketchup, but we try not to serve it.”
So, when celebrating National Hot Dog Day in Chicago, skip the sweet tomato-based condiment, unless it’s for the kids.
“People didn’t want to cover it up and mask the true flavors. And how great is that?” Chiappetti said. “What a great premise to eating. Give me the natural, the best, don’t cover things up in sugar. I think the hot dog story is a lot of what the culinary story is in Chicago.”