For years, I never understood why people bristled at putting ketchup on hot dogs.
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It’s not like I tried to dispel the notion that ketchup on hot dogs was not OK. I was far from normalizing that because, well, ketchup is gross.
To me, the flavor—just a sickly sweet tomato taste with a hint of vinegar—isn’t great on meats.
I’ve always used mustard on my hot dogs, unwittingly following the example of “real” Chicago hot dog connoisseurs who wish everyone else would follow.
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I am so sure that while I was not a fan of using ketchup on hot dogs, I never understood why until today.
Apparently, a TV station in Chicago uncovered the truth.
Chicago Chef Steve Chiappetti tells NBC 5 why, explaining that during the depression, meat wasn’t always of the greatest quality.
If you’re following along, you’re starting to see where we’re going.
Yep, customers used ketchup to mask the flavor of risky Depression-era meats, and apparently, it’s carried over…for nearly 100 years.
So now, when hot dog joints, Chicagoans, or just Illinois residents, in general, don’t want ketchup on their dog, it’s not a taste thing; it’s more about pride, like “My hot dog is of good quality so you can skip the ketchup.”
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While I’ve never been one to use ketchup on a hot dog, at least now I understand why it matters so much.
The 5 ‘Must-Try’ Chicago Hot Dog Experiences In Illinois
The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have built quite a reputation for incredible food, but none have reached the level of obsession like the Chicago-style hot dog. Discover the 5 hot dogs in the Windy City you must try before you die.
Gallery Credit: Steve Shannon
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