Being my first time in Chicago there were a few things necessary to check off of my travel list. I needed to see a game at Wrigley Field, have a Chicago dog, and get a slice of authentic deep-dish pizza. Saturday morning started with a light drizzle and a trip to Wrigley to watch the Chicago Cubs play the San Francisco Giants. Now I am a true blue Texas Rangers fan, but being hosted by a Cubbie, I donned my Cubs baseball cap and headed out. It wasn’t too hard to cheer against the Giants based on the 2010 World Series, and the camaraderie of the fans made it lots of fun. Before going into the stands we headed over to Wrigley’s Captain Morgan Club to listen to the live music and start the morning with a beverage. While it may no longer be the official beer of the Cubs, having a pregame Old Style is still quite the tradition.
Great seats at Wrigley |
There really isn’t anything better at a ballgame than a dog and a beer. Seeing that I had begun my beer drinking early, the next step was—of course—a Chicago dog. If you ever happen to be craving a dog at Wrigley, find the stands that sell only Chicago dogs. They go through them the fastest so you will have a better chance at a fresher hot dog rather than one that has been sitting in a crockpot of tepid water for hours. Chicago dogs are your regular meat on a poppy seed bun with grilled onions, relish, mustard, sliced tomatoes, a pickle and a hot pepper on top. I am not usually one for onion on a dog, but the fresh grilled onions smelled so sweet and flavorful that I had to ask for a few to be as authentic as possible. The rest of the creation process was up to me. I sidled up to the table of toppings and tried not to look too much like a rookie. After some mustard and fresh tomato slices, I added some hot peppers and decided to nix the relish and pickle. I’m not a fan of either condiment and while wanting to be authentic I also wanted to actually enjoy my hot dog. I had tried to look like a pro as I added toppings but apparently very quickly showed my lack of knowledge when I added about six hot peppers to the top of my dog. Little did I know the traditional Chicago dog usually comes with one or maybe two hot peppers. Oops! What can I say, I’m a Texan who likes her food spicy. Of course, Carrie was nice enough not to mention anything until after I had finished but said she had never seen anyone put that many peppers on a dog. She kept expecting my mouth to catch on fire, but luckily my love of natural spice only made me enjoy the hot dog more with all that kick in each bite. The Chicago dog is something I will eat again. The freshness of the tomato slices and peppers was not only great texture but didn’t make me feel like I was eating a cheap hot dog. Big fan of the Chicago dog! B+
Notice my plethora of hot peppers... oops! |
Half of my Single Scoop!! |
Due to the crust thickness it takes 45 minutes to cook one pizza, so once we were seated they almost immediately took our order. We stuck with a classic and ordered the Numero Uno® with a veggie plate to nibble on while we waited. The celery, peppers and carrots were crisp and refreshing with a large side of hummus for dipping. Nothing special, but after a weekend of rich foods, the veggies were exactly what my tummy was craving. If you get a chance to stop by Uno’s when the weather is nice, I highly recommend sitting upstairs. The upper area is great, with covered outdoor seating and spectacular people watching from your perch above the street. With greenery and fans that kept us cool while we waited, Uno’s upstairs patio is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the skyscrapers of Chicago. After a time frame that felt much shorter than 45 minutes we were greeted with the distinct aroma of crust, veggies, tomato sauce and bubbling cheese. A two inch thick dish was placed on our table and my eyes almost popped!
Any qualms I had about deep dish pizza were gone. We cut into the pie and went to work. The cheese had a beautiful brown bubble without frying the roof of my mouth as soon as I took a bite. The peppers and sausage were from the garden, fresh with a kick that left you wanting more. I’m not usually one for onions on my pizza but they fit in perfectly to give some crunch to the thick dough. The cheese, sauce, and dough ratio was perfect! My biggest problem with deep-dish pizza is the overwhelming nature of the dough. I wind up feeling like I am eating bread with a little bit of other stuff piled on top. Not here! I ended up eating three pieces and if I hadn’t been shopping for skinny jeans later, might have been able to down a fourth. Uno’s, I don’t know your secret but I love it! A+
With a full stomach and an appreciation for Chi-town I hit the road for home having experienced a wonderful city with a wonderful friend. I will definitely be back and my tummy will be happier for it! Thanks Chicago, see you soon.
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