Today, four TOC staffers - including me - went out to Hot Doug’s for a long lunch (it was only long because it’s a bit of a hike from the downtown TOC offices, not because we stopped at the Village Tap on the way back) to sample the latest addition to the menu: The New Chicago, Kevin Haas’s winning dog in our recent Create Your Own Hot Doug’s Dog Contest.

You can see how it looks above, but what about the taste? To quote the Hot Doug’s customer on the left: "There’s a lot of flavors going on there." Indeed. Here again is the winning entry:

Mexican chorizo sausage, Asian pear chutney, Indian paneer cheese, chili mustard, served on a multi-grain roll. As the original Chicago dog reflected our immigrant heritage (Greek, Italian and Jewish immigrants), this encased meat reflects our new and future immigrant population. Latinos now account for 1 in 4 city residents, our Asian population is expected to grow over a third in a matter of a decade, and India presents the third largest group of new immigrants to Chicago. This new sausage celebrates this new Chicago.

One note on the roll: Doug Sohn informed us that the multi-grain roll that Haas originally suggested "wasn’t working out." I can only surmise that this was because the enormity of the dog required a heartier roll. But I can say that it does not adversely affect the taste. Below are the TOC reviews from four non-food critics.

Ben Kenigsberg, Film writer: I’ve said before that there are no bad dogs at Hot Doug’s — only lesser levels of awesomeness. The New Chicago definitely belongs on the higher plane.

Ruth Welte, associate Features editor: The New Chicago, which to me sounded like a car-wreck of a sausage, turns out to be proof that Hot Doug can do no wrong. As if I needed further proof. The chorizo was juicy but not greasy and strong-flavored but not too salty. The whole deal was hot enough to make your nose run; the sweet pear chutney was a great balance to the savory dog. Diversity in its purest form.

Steve Heisler, Comedy and Time In editor: Chicago is known for spawning eclectic cuisine, and perhaps the best thing you can say about the New Chicago dog is that it mirrors that process perfectly. The flavors didn’t blend 100 percent for me, but the dog was certainly yummy enough to stand out. Zingy, crumbly chorizo overpowered one bite; smooth curry the next; pear chutney shortly thereafter. A noble experiment in Hot Dougocity. 

Scott Smith, Web editor: I’m not one for spicy foods because I am extremely Anglo, inside and out. But even though this dog packs a wallop of spice, the complimentary flavors, particularly the pear chutney, make it a worthy addition to the Hot Doug’s menu. Also, I am a sucker for a pretzel roll.

You can try The New Chicago yourself at Hot Doug’s through August 10. If you do, let us know what you think in the comments.

Photos: Vanessa Valdovinos