Gold Coast Dogs: Home of the Char Dog

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Gold Coast Dogs

It was my last day in the city on this Chicago trip. I needed a new briefcase and then had a bit of time before heading to the airport.

Found a nice luggage store and got a great back on sale and, in need of a hot dog, asked where to get a good Chicago dog. After some consultation with the other staff, it was decided that Gold Coast Dogs was the best place.

I left the store and headed a few blocks over and saw it. I'd passed it before. Looked good on the outside, inside, a bit non-descript, but what does one really want a hot dog place to look like (here's a quick aside, the location is also an outlet for another fast food place - won't name it here - and that's what shows up on your credit card; who would get THAT food when they have a choice of the hot dog here is beyond me!).

First thing you'll notice, see the picture above, is that this is the home of the "char dog". Not your typical Chicago dog, nope, here they split it and grill it. Wow!

On top of the dog is the list of ingredients that are mandator to the Chicago dog:

• poppyseed bun
• yellow mustard (NEVER ketchup!)
• chopped onions
• tomato wedges
• pickle spear
• green relish
• hot peppers
• celery salt

In this case, though, the char just really takes it a step above. Kim & Carlo's was great, with a great location, but for just the dog, Gold Coast is my number !!

More photos. See the website for some additional locations.

Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date Visited: 14 July 2009
Address: 17 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL‎
Website: http://www.goldcoastdogs.net/

R.I.P.: Joe Tarrentino's

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

R.I.P.: Joe Tarrentino's

First off, this isn't the more famous Tarrentino's on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. In fact, the bigger, more famous Tarrentino's once sued the smaller Joe Tarrentino's in South Lake Tahoe for use of the name.

But hey, what was Joe supposed to call his place? Alioto's? Joe won that case, but time eventually took it's toll and Joe Tarentino's eventually closed.

Tarrentino's was the first "real" restaurant that I remember going to. It wasn't a Denny's or a Dairy Queen. There was a maitre d' (usually Joe himself or one of his daughters). Joe and family were friends of my parents (well, I'm guessing they were friends of most of the year-round residents in South Tahoe), and Tarrentino's was where we went for a "nice" dinner when we weren't going to a restaurant in one of the casinos (in those days, just Harrah's, Harvey's, and the Sahara Tahoe).

The place always struck me as dark, but maybe that was the style. Big banquet style booths (we always seemed to sit in a booth).

And the food? It was Italian (in case you haven't guessed). I probably usually got spaghetti or maybe ravioli. But what I remember where the antipasto plates. Carrots, olives, little gherkins, the usual. And the bread, with little pats of butter! Nothing really special, but the kind of things that said "restaurant" to me then and probably still does to this day.

So Joe, thanks for the memories and for the pasta!

Meal: Dinner
Rating: N/A
Date Closed: ?
Address: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Website: N/A

Tom's Bar & Grill: St. Louis

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Tom's Bar & Grill

Coming in and out of St. Louis, I generally take the Metrolink from the airport (STL) to Central West End (and then make my way to the Missouri Botanical Garden).

On my last two trips, I've spent more quality time in the Central West End, which, once you get past the mega-construction around the medical center, is quite nice and full of some intriguing restaurants.

On this trip, I didn't have time for in-depth exploration, but just a quick stop.

My friend Doug was going to drop me off at the Metrolink, but we had some extra time, so he suggested we stop in at Tom's Bar & Grill. Doug suggested Tom's since it had parking and was close to the Metrolink.

Coming from Washington, it was hard to get used to the fact that there was still smoking allowed anywhere (!), but we settled in at the bar for a quick drink.

Service was quick and fine and, if I was looking for a good and frindly spot for a quick drink, I'd be sure to hit Tom's again.

Meal: Drinks
Rating: ***
Address: 20 S Euclid Ave., St Louis, MO 63108-1410
Website: http://www.tomsbarandgrill.com

Frontier Jumpstart snack

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Snack on Frontier Airlines

So flying westward on Frontier Airlines, destination Salt Lake City (via Denver, 'cause that's the only way Frontier will get you there!).

Flight delayed for three hours (allowing the sampling of some of the food fare behind the security gates at National Airport) and so, just before boarding, the gate crew announce that the food on the plane has now expired, so if you want anything other than a snack, RUN NOW and buy it.

So it goes.

But on board they did have

• Rice Krispies
• Milk
• Graham Cracker Scooby Snacks
• Apple Juice
  

and only $3.00!

Gourmet? Of Course not ... but better than nothing!

Meal: Snack
Rating: N/A
Address: In the air
Website: N/A

Kim & Carlo's Chicago Style Hot Dog Store

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Kim & Carlo's Chicago Style Hot Dog Store

The Chicago Hot Dog is something special. It's not the dog itself, but wnat goes on it! For the desperate traveler passing through O'Hare, there are a number of spots where you can get a nice Chicago-style dog.

This post, however, is going to focus on a fabulous little stand outside of the Field Museum, Kim & Carlo's.

My hosts at the Field Museum offered the choice of the Corner Bakery (inside the museum) or the hot dog stand.

Not really a choice!

We headed out and the group looked over the choices: turkey dog, tofu dog, brats. Again, it's a hot dog stand, go with the Vienna frank, then make it Chicago-style!

And just what makes it Chicago-style? Here's the list:

• poppyseed bun
• yellow mustard (NEVER ketchup!)
• chopped onions
• tomato wedges
• pickle spear
• green relish
• hot peppers

and the key (in my opinion):

• celery salt
  

Kim & Carlo's does it good! Not stinting on any of the ingredients, they pile it all on and still leave you wanting more.

More pictures.

Meal: Lunch
Rating: *****
Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus between Mcfretridge Dr. & Waldron Dr.), Chicago, IL 60605
Website: N/A

Billy Goat Tavern: Butt in anytime!

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Billy Goat Tavern

Established in 1934, it probably wasn't until the famed Saturday Night Live sketch that the Billy Goat Tavern achieved nationwide fame (or at least became known to me!)

"Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries, cheeps! No Pepsi, Coke!" John Belushi, as the surly diner guy, would respond to any befuddled customer who wanted to vary the order from the canonical "Cheezborger, cheeps, and Coke."

Located in a weird stretch on Michigan Avenue, well, not actually on, but under because the Billy Goat Tavern is underneath Michigan Ave., beneath an underpass! Going in through the doors ("Butt in anytime") you're warned to "enter at your own risk". Once inside, it doesn't really look anything like the SNL set. Head down the steps and sidle up to the counter. The menu is a nice selection of sandwiches made on the grill to your left. In addition to the single, double and triple "cheezborger" you'll find ribeye steak, chicken, etc. Chips are also there, and, sad to say, Coke OR Pepsi!

I couldn't resist the basics, so I got the triple cheeseburger and Pepsi. The cook had them all lined up and my burger rolled off the grill and was slapped on a bun in just about a minute or so. Grab the burger and take a step or two to the "fixin's bar" where you can get tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and onions (sliced or diced).

I dressed up my burger and grabbed a seat (you're on your own for seating). The walls are encrusted with photographs of celebrities -- big small, sports, TV, film, local, national.

And the burger?

Well, it was pretty good. Nice and greasy, flavorful and done nicely. Needless to say, probably not something good your arteries and, yes, the Billy Goat is probably boasting on thirty plus years of SNL notoriety (there are now a bunch in Chicago and even one in Washington).

Still, next time in your Chi-town, wander down the scary steps under under Michigan Avenue. You won't find any Trolls under the Bridge, just the Billy Goat and a tasty "Cheezborger!"

More pictures.

Meal: Lunch
Rating: *****
Address: 430 N. Michigan Ave at Lower Level, Chicago, IL
Website: http://www.billygoattavern.com/

Eastbound: Virgin America VX78

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Eastbound: Virgin America VX78

It was hard to choose from the options on my return flight from San Francisco. But I soon did! I went with the Napa Valley Chicken Salad Hand Roll. It included Diced chicken with apples, currants, carrots and mayonnaise dressing in a garden spinach tortilla wrap. Along with a side of pasta salad and Toblerone chocolate for dessert.

I also added the side of a Fruit and Cheese box that had brie, pepper Monterrey jack and aged cheddar. Finished off with red seedless grapes, dried cranberries, pecans and a selection of multigrain crackers.

I completed the meal with a selection of spirits, VeeV Acai and a Le Tourment Vert Absinthe.

Virgin America knows how to do airline food right!