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Every city tries to accommodate transplants in the best way they can with some nosh from their home city. BJ's offers "Chicago Style" pizza. If anyone has ever tried their Chicago Style pizza, they know BJ's is as confused about their pizza as their own name.
But one thing irks us a little more than fake L.A. "Chicago Style" pizza, and that is L.A. cheese fries where they sprinkle on some shredded cheese and call it a day. The only things that can save these fries are Ranch (like Islands) or an aioli (like Skooby's).
Metroblogging Chicago describes the Chicago style amply: "Budacki's cheese fries to go come in a bag, with the cheese squeezed in with the fries and a fork for eating." That cheese is not Velveeta (puke) or even nacho style (lame). We're talking super sharp spreadable.
As of yet, we can't find the real Chicago deal in L.A.. Taste Chicago in Burbank doesn't taste much like Chicago. The owner of QT Chicago Dogs (various locations in the Valley) tell us business is hard enough to add a new menu item. So if you know of a restaurant that serves Chicago style cheese fries the correct way, let us know. Otherwise, you can see us in our own kitchens with the below recipe:
Two Options for completing your heart attack:
1. Melt down cheese with milk in a saucepan and pour on fries.
2. Ditch the milk and when the fries are just out of the fryer (or stove), quickly spread the cheese on with a knive and let it melt.
Photo, appropriately by DeepFry via Flickr
