Another week, another best-[insert food]-in-the-country list, but this is one we can stand behind and cheer.
Gene & Judeʼs Red Hot Stand, River Groveʼs purveyors of just hot dogs, tamales and fries since 1946, will be named the number one hot dog stand in the country in the March issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray. The magazine goes on newsstands this week.
The adjudication was handled by Serious Eats, the James Beard Award-winning blog with food writing heavyweights Ed Levine, Adam Kuban and Hawk Krall. Their hot dog-scouting team chose 64 stands throughout the nation, divided into four geographic regions. A March Madness-like competition eliminated restaurants round by round, until two hot dog stands remained: Aqui con El Nene in Tucson, and our own Gene & Jude's. Our hometown hero won. “Itʼs a great honor for anyone to notice us,” said Dan Ciancio, general manager of the stand for 20 years. “We go through a lot of trouble to have such a small menu. Weʼve just kept it the same. And I feel proud that weʼre doing something right.”
2720 River Rd., River Grove, 708-452-7634
