In Search of: NoVa's best Chili Dog!

Well...today's adventure...

The Windy City Red Hots was a bust. Place is a catering wagon at the Blue Ridge Nursery. Maybe in the spring.

So...I went to Costco and got the large Hebrew Nationals...went to Giant and got Texas Pete's Chili Sauce...cut up some onions, some spicy mustard.

And close to Nirvanna...but not quite.

 

They're even better when you are actually at the Nathan's stand in Coney Island!

 

sorry, buffett! - I forgot that Windy City is closed until mid-January. My co-workers and I sometimes drive over there for lunch. I'm not much of a hot dog/chili dog eater, but my co-workers rave about it. I usually get the pizza puff.

 

Well, you know what they say about opinions. I certainly don't agree with this one. VI has great chili dogs and good chili macs.

 

So - what is it about "The Perfect Chili Dog" that makes it perfect?

Is the dog boiled, steamed or grilled? Is it a hot dog or a frank? Kosher?
Is the bun steamed or toasted?
What about the chili? Is it hot? Mild? Very hot? With meat or without?
The cheese - sharp? Mild?
The onions - mild? Pungent? Obnoxious?

Let's hear it!

 

mmmmmmmm...Chili mac...great with Beer lots of beer.

 

Dogs must be BEEF & fried (Rutt Hutt NJ-Style) but boiled it good.
Bun - Steamed
Chili - meat (no beans), hot
Cheese - mild but finely shredded
Onions - sinus blowing, yet crisp.
and a Ice Cold light beer. Yummy. That would be my deathrow chili dog.

 

Kaos, that's easy. It's the beer.

 

Unless they changed from my frequent times there, they simply boil their dogs and use a large can of pre-made chili. And the buns are comparable to Wonder Bread. The cheese comes from a large bag also.

FYI - Regardless of my chili dog reviews, I actually love the VI. The atmosphere and the people are truly unique. I usually get the chili-mac with my beer!

 

it's grilled, unless it comes out of a Hebrew Nat'l cart on a Manhatan street corner. it has a thick, medium flavored beef chili coating it- no bells and whistle like beans and peppers- just beef CHILI. with chopped, pungent white onion and shredded sharp cheddar cheese slathered all over it. the bun- what stinkin bun? if i must- it's a soft potato roll...

my boss and her husband ate THIS one:
http://babbledog.com/image/0d07a05a60ec7d33cfed059ba5772542/?size=4col-16

THE HILLBILLY HOMEWRECKER in WVA, 1 lb, deep fried, smothered, covered, topped and chunked bunn filled with heaven....

 

Not that Coney Island. This one has been in J-Town near the Steel Mills since 1916. They line the hot dogs up their arm to coat them with mustard, chili and onions. Same name, not the same dogs.

http://www.coneyislandjohnstownpa.com/

Closest thing I've found here is the Vienna Inn. Not great, but nothing like the old grouchy lady taking your order. Good atmosphere...

 

My favorite chili in the area is from "Hard Times Cafe" They have four different types of chili to choose from but my favorite is "Terlingua Red". They'll give you a sample of all four before you order if you're not sure which one to pick. I just wish there was a Hard Times closer to Ashburn...went there often when I lived in Arlington.

What makes a good chili dog is good chili - anyone can grill an all-beef wiener

 

You know what's funny? Two folsk answered thatt he chili should be plain - no beans. Well, here's the issue - real chili has beans - no meat. Hence the term "chili con carne" or "chili with meat." It was a poor man's stew back in the day and beef was pricey. Now, I've made 5 gallons of chili that cost me $6, I've made one gallon that cost me $45 - so you can spend what you want on a bucket of red.

So, it sounds like we need a bun steamer, a dog griller, some home made chili (there's a thread on that here), some purple onions (they have the most zing) and a brick of sharp cheddar. TO COSTCO!

 

When hubby makes chili he uses ground beef, pinto beans, black beans, tomato sauce, onion, salsa, cheddar, jalapeno, and lots of spices. It comes out very well! I make cornbread from the Jiffy mix, add some real corn to it, bake it and it makes an excellent side for the chili.

 

I work about a mile from the nursery and I was ready to head over there for lunch. Glad I saw this post.

As for it being a lunch wagon, I could care less. Remember the Mighty Midget (RIP) in Leesburg? When they re-open Jan. 12, I'm there, baby. If they are even 1/2 as good as Hot Doug's in Chicago, I'll be happy.