If there’s one thing I love, it’s new, interesting food. Yesterday I was walking back to my house at lunch time when I spotted something strange. Could it be? A new food cart! Yes, it is. I decided that I would go there today for lunch since I love trying new things and being an early adopter.
For starters, the man working at this cart is INCREDIBLY friendly. Happy to chit-chat and is very into the products he is selling. The cart is visibly very clean looking too. The front is stocked with high quality kettle chips in a variety of interesting flavors and the right side has the menu as well as an image describing how to make a “Chicago-style” hot dog.
I was pretty hungry so I went with 2 hot dogs “Chicago-style” and a Cheddar Bratwurst. He has a number of other bratwurst options as well and a ton (!) of toppings and condiments. He has the different types of dogs in their own cooking water and throws them onto the grill top to cook for a bit while you wait. The hot dogs are Vienna brand, a brand I am not necessarily familiar with, but just looking at them, you can visibly see they are quality dogs. The buns he uses are of good quality too. Fresh, soft, and coated in poppy seeds.
I guess I didn’t say specify how I wanted my Cheddarwurst so he asked me how I wanted it. I asked for his recommendation and he said onions and mustard “So that the cheddar flavor in the sausage can still be tasted”. I decided I could not resist getting one of the interesting varieties of chips either, so I picked up a bag of Zapp’s Spicy Creole Tomato with Tabasco Kettle Chips.
I went back to my room to dig in. I started with one of my Chicago-Style dogs which came fully loaded with Mustard, Onion, Green Relish, Tomato, Pickles, Celery Salt, and Sport Peppers on a Poppy-Seed Bun. This thing is a sight to behold. It’s really blowing out of the bun, which may in fact be its downfall. It was really, really delicious and those peppers had a nice kick. The flavors worked really nicely together but it is a bit messy and difficult to eat. I think the water from the onions and relish soaked the bun a bit making it susceptible to falling apart. But, delicious.
I then ate the Cheddar-brat and boy was he right about onions and mustard on it. The cheddar flavor really rang through and I found it to be excellent. I finished with my 2nd Chicago-Style dog before eating those fantastic Kettle Chips.
Bottom Line: Really delicious food made with high quality ingredients with a friendly, smiling man running the cart. Also, I probably only needed to eat 2 dogs. I’m stuffed.
Cost: $2+$2+$2.50+$1.25 = $7.75
Tags: Brat, Bratwurst, Hot Dog, Mustard, Onion, Pepper, Relish, Sausage, Vienna, Wurst