Don’t even think about putting ketchup on a hot dog

Americans love their hot dogs, eating about 7 billion of them between Memorial Day and Labor Day the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. And Hulu’s hit show “The bear‘ has not only sparked a great appetite for hot chefs, but it has also reignited a major debate over what condiments are acceptable on a hot dog.

Take, for example, the following conversation from episode 4:

Richie: “What kind of hole does ketchup put on a hot dog?”
Carmy: “A child, Richie.”

It turns out Carmy isn’t the only Chicagoan who feels this way.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has identified eighteen regional-style hot dogs in the United States, but there are likely many more. In New York, hot dogs are eaten with mustard and steamed onions. From Arizona to California, the Sonora hot dog is wrapped in bacon and topped with pinto beans, jalapeños, spicy grilled peppers and crema.

But in Chicago, where “The Bear” is located and hot dogs are legendary, the idea of ​​putting ketchup on a hot dog can be controversial.

The classic Chicago hot dog has mustard, neon green relish, raw onions, a full pickle spear, tomatoes, a little bit of celery salt and a poppy seed bun; sports peppers are optional. Historians link the Chicago version to the Depression, when people could get a full meal from a hot dog and toppings.

But don’t even think about putting ketchup on it, at least according to certain Chicagoans. Even President Barack Obama, a longtime Chicago resident, said this several years ago CNN that “it is not acceptable after the age of 8.”

Some hot dog stands in Chicagoland pride themselves on not serving ketchup, such as Gene and Jude’s in River Grove, just outside the city.

Other Chicagoans are taking a more live-and-let-live approach. Bill Savage, a Northwestern University professor and Chicago historian, said the entire argument is about identity and authenticity.

“If you like ketchup on your hot dogs, and you put it on there, who cares?” Savage asked. “No one, except a judgmental person who says, ‘Oh, you’re not really authentic.'”

But there may be some practical reasons why ketchup may not be an ideal seasoning, from a flavor profile perspective.

“Generally speaking, the reasoning behind this is just the sweetness of the ketchup,” says Eric Mittenthal, chairman of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. “It’s just not an ideal addition to the hot dog.”

Doug Sohnthe founder of Hot Doug’s Inc., who is known for pushing the boundaries of wrapped meats with foie gras toppings and other unique ingredients, generally doesn’t like ketchup as a condiment.

“I think the flavor elements of ketchup, both in terms of sweetness and acidity and the cinnamon, cloves, etc. that are in it, clash with the other hot dog seasonings,” he said.

Other experts believe ketchup confuses and overpowers other condiments, not just those on a Chicago-style hot dog, said Manolis Alpogianis, owner of America’s Dog & Burger, known for serving eight different types of regional hot dogs.

Mustard is a different story, noted Bob Schwartz, an executive of Vienna Beef Hot Dogs and author of “Never put ketchup on a hot dog.“It’s more in keeping with the hot dog,” he said.

Children often receive a pass. Of course, the cutoff age is also a controversy. Obama said 8. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says 18.

But the same reason ketchup may not work for adults may be the reason children like it: its sweetness. Alpogianis explained that children do not like the more complex flavors of mustard and onions.

But taste is not just a factor of age.

“Both age and genetics combine with our culture to shape our love of certain foods, including ketchup,” says Danielle Reed, associate director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. “Some people are born with genetic variants that promote a greater preference for sweets, which can be exacerbated by age, with young children generally preferring sweeter foods than adults.”

For Reed, the ketchup vs. mustard debate is really about the war between sweet and savory. “Some people strongly object to what they see as the oversweetness of many prepared dishes, while others like it sweet,” she says.

Chicago may not be the only place where ketchup is avoided. In the list of regional style hot dogsnone list ketchup as an ingredient.

But Schwartz and Alpogianis both agree that the debate is really raging in Chicago. Some places in the US take ketchup for granted, others don’t. Culinary conflicts are part of it, but they are also cultural, Schwartz explains. In some places it is simply tradition not to put ketchup on a hot dog.

Of course, not everyone honors the tradition. a 2021 survey of 1,000 Americans ) found that mustard is the most popular seasoning for hot dogs, followed by a connection between ketchup and onions.

At its core, one of the best things about the hot dog is the flexibility of the toppings, allowing for personal creativity.

“There are only two kinds of food: good and bad,” Sohn explained. “And if it tastes good, go ahead.”