In my continued love affair with everything Chicago (having never stepped foot in the city during those "cold months") anyone who follows me on Instagram knows that every time I set foot in the city - I must must always have a Chicago Dog. Portillo's is obviously the go-to* not only because it's a Chi-town staple - but NOW. NOW that I've been introduced to their "cheese sauce..." it's a no brainer. 

When you order up cheese fries - they serve you a hearty side of their crispy crinkle cuts with a container full of melty, smooth, and perfectly dunkable cheese sauce ready to be consumed. This sauce is pretty much what I always want and imagine Velveeta should taste like. It's got the consistency spot on - but there's something just a touch better about this cheese sauce than anything I've had in the past. Maybe it's the proximity to Wisconsin. Maybe it's just the aura of being in the heart of one of my favorite cities. Maybe it is actually just better. Not knowing their recipe - I can't say for sure... but what I do know to be true, is that this sauce is amazing. 

Now what I say next some might call sacrilege - but I think the influence of having a Wisconsin boyfriend has started to rub off on me, and I dare say we Wisco-fied the Chicago Dog to the next level in the very best way... 

But adding a drizzle of cheese sauce on the already overloaded joy that's a Chicago dog works. Plain and simple. So next time you're at Portillo's why don't you give it a try? Let me know your thoughts below!

ALSO - I have to say, in trying to find Portillo's cheese sauce recipe online - I stumbled across one of my culinary heroes J. Kenji López-Alt's recipe on Serious Eats and the thought of adding Franks Red Hot to some perfectly emulsified extra sharp cheddar sauce sounds beyond amazing! Must try it. 

**Actually - if we're really going to get into it - I actually prefer the dogs at Wrigleyville a bit more... I'm not the biggest fan of the "steamed" bun situ they have going on at Portillo's.  But life hack for me - you can ask for your dog on a plate and they won't wrap it!