Hot Doug's

Here's a shout out to Chicago's (and possibly the world's) greatest Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium, Hot Doug's. I was last in there before Christmas but put off writing about it because I didn't want to tip off a Christmas gift. Proprietor Doug Sohn comes up with the most creative hot dogs and sausages you'll ever come across, making his main product out of whatever he's got handy--venison, alligator, wild boar, or even kangaroo, which is featured on their Specials page as of this writing.

One fun feature Doug includes on his Menu is celebrity names for the various dishes. One that's always intrigued me is the Steve Diggle, which was formerly the Howard Devoto. I'm a big fan of Devoto (though Diggle's no slouch, either) and always wondered if Doug had a specific reason for shouldering Howard aside. I asked him why the Devoto was now the Diggle, and he told me that he essentially named the dogs for his own enjoyment. When I asked if Pete Shelley ever got a turn, I tipped him that I knew the reference, and his face lit up. Although he has profiles of his hot dog stand from The New York Times, Chicago magazine, and even Punk Planet in his front window, he demonstrated particular pride in pulling out a recent issue of MOJO from behind the counter (it was the November issue with the Ramones on the cover) to show me a small write-up they'd done. He also pulled out an e-mail he'd received from Steve Diggle. Big times at the encased meat emporium.

Chicago readers (as well as those visiting the Chicagoland area) should drop by Hot Doug's for some of the best hot dogs and sausages to be found in the civilized world. But be sure to check the hours first, because they're not open evenings or Sundays.