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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Tuesday, March 19

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Event Mon Jun 09 2014

Get Ready For The Gapers Block Hot Dog Cookoff!

gb_hot_dog_cookoff_2014.jpg

Ladies and gentlemen, dust off your roomiest shorts and start honing your mustard palates because it's that time of year again... the Gapers Block Hot Dog Cookoff is back on July 12. Join Gapers Block and fellow hot dog connoisseurs to watch six Chicago chefs battle over charcoal grills, then decide for yourself who should win top dog.

The lineup includes last year's formidable winner ManBQue, Harmony Grill, Weiner and Still Champion, Fat Rice and MakeItFor.Us.

Cookoff chefs all start with Vienna Beef hot dogs, but can use them in whatever way they like. And don't expect anyone to just phone it in with relish--last year's entries included an over-the-top, bacon wrapped Sonoran dog, a Chinese five spice chili-topped dog, and a flamin' hot cheeto-laced, bacon-fried, delicious mess of a dog. We even heard a rumor that this year there will be a "contemporary" corn dog in the mix.

Judges Hot Doug and David "The Food Dude" Lissner will debate who best pushed the humble hot dog to tasty new limits and award the grand prize. But don't worry, you can still cast your vote the Chicago way (early and often, with cash) for the People's Choice award.

The cookoff takes place from 2-7 pm outdoors at Schubas. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children under 12, and includes tasting portions of all the chefs' creations. There will also be a cash bar with drink specials courtesy of Old Style, raffle prizes, bags (or cornhole, if you prefer), a DJ spinning music and a live performance by the fantastic Get Up with the Get Downs. What more could you ask for?

Proceeds from the event will benefit Reach Out and Read Illinois, an early literacy organization that prepares America's youngest children to read by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. So for once, you can feel good about hot dogs and day drinking... because, you know, it's for the kids.

So tell us, what kind of a hot dog do you want to see at the cookoff?

Tickets to the event can be purchased online at schubas.com/ or at the door.

 
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Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

The State of Food Writing

By Brandy Gonsoulin

In 2009, food blogging, social media and Yelp were gaining popularity, and America's revered gastronomic magazine Gourmet shuttered after 68 years in business. Former Cook's Illustrated editor-in-chief Chris Kimball followed with an editorial, stating that "The shuttering of Gourmet reminds...
Read this feature »

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About Drive-Thru

Drive-Thru is the food and drink section of Gapers Block, covering the city's vibrant dining, drinking and cooking scene. More...
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Editor: Robyn Nisi, rn@gapersblock.com
Drive-Thru staff inbox: drivethru@gapersblock.com

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