Chi town knows how to eat. Can't argue with that. Where else in the world could you find a hot dog stand that boasts a menu with 10 specialty dogs? All of the encased meats are made in house and so the possibilities are truly endless. Check out the specialty menu: http://hotdougs.com/menu.htm

From foie gras duck sausage topped with foie gras mousse, fleur de sel and truffle aioli to a chardonnay and jalapeno rattlesnake sausage with prickly pear raita and asiago cheese, Doug has established a thrilling destination spot for adventurous foodies looking for a food coma.

This joint took forever to find which was an adventure all on its own. My imbecile soon-to-be brother in law insisted that it would be worth the 20 min train ride, 15 min bus ride and 10 min walk that it took to find. We did not expect to see others making the same pilgrimage. Turning the corner we were stunned to see the line wrapping around the block to get into Hot Dougs! But we had come this far, and were in it to win it.

40 min later, in a frenzy of excitement we ordered 9 varieties of hot dogs and fries drenched in goose fat. The food came. We all stared in awe and I arranged the plates for a photo. I pleaded with them all not to touch a thing and they obliged, appreciating the calm before the storm. I stood on my chair, I took a picture, I felt like the conductor of a great symphony, like Esa Pekka Salonen must feel giving the nod to his orchestra. I snapped the picture and the eating began.

We are champion eaters and this day was no different. We left stuffed but proud of ourselves for this accomplishment. We piled into a cab feeling sorry for the poor souls stuck in the cold who would never make it into Hot Doug's before closing. They wouldn't meet Doug or see the sausage art in the bathrooms. They wouldn't get to go home and nap off their gluttony induced food comas.