Fratello's: One Great Dog Here in NE Illinois-- Part 4

I went to their site and found out the Carvelli brothers began Fratello's in 1975 and are also famous for Italian beef (big surprise there). Why the place is not called Carvelli's? Because fratello means brothers in Italian. They have also been inducted into the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame.

What is a perfect Chicago hot dog? Well, Lou Carvelli will be quick to tell you it's a Fratello's hot dog, but: it's served on "a perfectly steamed poppy seed bun, with the all beef Vienna dog in natural casing which has a snap/bite to it, dressed with yellow mustard, relish, onions, tomato, pickle and sports peppers, dusted with celery salt." Well, all but the sport peppers for me. I hate when someone "slips" one of those little surprise hot things in my dog.

Fratello's hot dog was inspired by Tony's on Polk Street and Gene & Jude's in Chicago where Lou lived when he was younger. Monday, I will add some other Lake County spots.

Hot Dog Here I Come. --RoadDog

Fratello's: One Great Dog Here in NE Illinois-- Part 2

Fratello's, winner of the Lake County Journal's best hot dog contest this past summer (in an unscientific survey" as they called it), began in a double-wide trailer owned by two Italian brothers, Larry and Lou Carvelli.

It's original location on US-12 in Volo was so popular, they added ones in Rolling Meadows, Lake Zurich and Palatine, Illinois. When Larry retired, Lou sold the other three places to concentrate on the original.

Lou still works there every day. He says he and his brother decided to sell hot dogs because, "It was the Chicago-style sandwich. In the depression years , hot dogs kept people eating. It became a Chicago tradition and we wanted to bring it to Lake County and Chain O' Lakes area.

We felt like pioneers of the Chicago Style hot dog to bring it here." Too bad the article didn't mention when they originally opened.

A Chicago and Chain of Lakes Tradition. --RoadDog

Fratello's: One Great Dog Here in NE Illinois-- Part 1

From the July 25th-Juky 31st, 2013 Lake County (Ill) Journal.

Earlier this summer, I wrote about one of my favorite things to eat...hot dogs, here in Lake County, Illinois. (Well, actually I live right next door in McHenry County, but close enough.)

After writing about the winners (number one was Fratello's on US-12 in Volo, just south of Fox Lake, I had to go to Fratello's and bite a dog again as I hadn't been there for many years.

It was as good as I remembered them.

The newsaper also had an individual write-up on the place "Fratellos' 'pioneers Chicago-style dog' by Jesse Carpender.

The place is just around the corner from the famous Volo Auto Museum, a trip in itself. A favorite stop-off for visitors going to the auto museum as well as on their way for boating and fun on the Chain of Lakes and, of course, heading for Cheesehead land--Wisconsin.

Expect long lines most of the time, the place is that popular.

Good Dog, Good Dog. --RoadDog

What a Long Strange Trip It's Been: 40 Years Married Today

Well, here Liz and I are, 40 years after the fact.

We were married 40 years ago in Dekalb, Illinois, and honeymooned in Galena, where we'll soon be heading. As My Dear Old Dad Used to Sing....

Right now we are celebrating with boating almost everyday. Yesterday, we went to Wauconda and sat out on the deck overlooking Bang's Lake and enjoyed cocktails and a deejay. We then ate dinner at a really great Chicago-style hot dog stand, Fratello's, and then went to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and saw the band 1969 playing music from that era, our era. You know, 40+ years ago.

Just got back from boating and we'll be going out for an anniversary meal at Docker's on Pistakee Lake and then back to Captain's for our favorite local band, Soda.

Celebrating, Anyone?  --RoadDog