It ’s now been a minuscule over two years since Doug Sohn packed up his tongs and shut Hot Doug ’s , Chicago ’s favourite sausage shop . The long pain in the neck has lessened . Maybe it ’s the Cubs ending an unfathomably long World Series drought , maybe it ’s globular warming make Chicago wintertime more bearable , or maybe it ’s that rumour of Doug Sohn ’s retirement have been greatly exaggerated .
red-hot dog lover do it that Doug Sohn has n’t really been able-bodied to stay out of the encased nub game all . Despite the fact that he no longer has a restaurant of his own , he has collaborated with a whole lot of Chicago eateries , most notablyBlaze Pizzaand a little - cognize play locale ring Wrigley Field . Much like James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem , Doug has been ineffective to sack out whole - hog , and in doing so , has teased Chicago ’s sausage devotee into believe he ’ll make a return . Sohn was gracious enough to chat with us about his plans for the future tense , his collaboration , and why he has n’t really and truly been able-bodied to go to bed .
Oh , and spoiler alarum : Sohn is n’t going to be opening another eatery anytime soon . Sorry .
Doug Sohn|Jim Vondruska/Thrillist
First of all , how does it feel to be the LCD Soundsystem of incased meats ? Do you think that comes with any form of reputation?Doug Sohn : My first thought is : could n’t you have piece a set that I really wish ( the Buzzcocks , The Clash , Taylor Swift ) ? I realize that none of these make sense as an analogy , I just like them more . Having said that , I ’m completely abase by the erotic love and well wishes I ’ve experienced since shut down Hot Doug ’s . It ’s an amazing impression . As for reputation , I ’ve been called much bad .
Well , do you like the Pixies ? Or maybe Jay - Z ? I sense like the analogy works there , kinda - sorta . Do you suppose that conclude Hot Doug ’s pay you the chance to appreciate the love Chicago has for you more fully?Sohn : manifestly you were never in reality at Hot Doug’s[Note : I totally was , probably more times than was intelligent ] . Not a Brobdingnagian Pixies or Jay - Z fan . And , to be honest , I ’m forgetting what the analogy is . I never shave my head , so a Britney Spears doctrine of analogy plausibly is n’t right . Maybe more like Starland Vocal Band - you know , one hit and then a beloved " Where are they now ? "
As for the passion , I absolutely never take it for grant . As a matter of fact , and I ’m not banter about this , I sincerely thought that every day I opened the restaurant was going to be the day that no one indicate up . The restaurant business is an highly humbling business . I matt-up incredibly golden that Hot Doug ’s lasted as long as it did . The kind words and continued recognition still continue to perplex me . It ’s an overpowering feeling .
Sean Cooley/Thrillist
It seems like you ca n’t stay aside from making and cooking up sausage through the pop - ups and collaboration you do , so why not open up a raw restaurant?Sohn : Why do n’t I want to open a Modern restaurant ? Really ? Apparently you ’ve never worked in one . Firstly , there have only been about three or four tonic - ups / takeovers in the past two year , so apparently I ’ve been fairly good about stick aside . But , most importantly , my body of work on these has been importantly less knotty than running the restaurant , and I did n’t have to do it again the next day and the next day and … I was just able to chat with customers and ally and did n’t have the burden of staffing , prepping , armory , etc . , all the thing that I do n’t miss about owning a restaurant .
What would I have to bribe you with to convince you to spread out a new restaurant regardless?Sohn : While I do n’t bonk you personally , I feel sure-footed that you do not have what it takes to buy me . If your name rime with Shmom Shmiketts and the bribe was ownership of a sure Chicago baseball team , well … I would suppose about it .
Speaking of the Cubs , Hot Doug ’s has been in Wrigley Field for two class , the Cubs made the NLCS and then deliver the goods the whole thing . It ca n’t be a co-occurrence , can it?Sohn : Coincidence ? in earnest ? That ’s what the kids call " crazy talk ! " There ’s an obvious cause - and - effect situation go on here . I defy anyone to prove otherwise !
Sean Cooley/Thrillist
Has collaborating with shoes likePieceand Wrigley Field offered a variety of middle ground between the sentence commitments of running your own place and being sincerely retired , or does it just make you overleap possess your own place that much more?Sohn : The former . There are certain aspects of owning Hot Doug ’s that I authentically drop . Seeing and natter with customers , the relationships / friendly relationship I had with purveyors , easy approach to the food , the payroll check . It ’s the other 80 % that I do not miss . Owning any low business is physically and mentally draining . And as you get older , it ’s that much harder .
The collaborations provide a great originative outlet . The portion of fun vs. work is definitely in my favor ! The relative lack of day - to - day responsibility is fabulously desirable .
Very recently , you , along with the possessor ofHoney Butter Fried Chicken , put together A Taste for Change , a food tasting to boost justice and opportunities for impoverished residential district in Chicago and beyond . Is this your way of life of consecrate back to the metropolis you lie with in the best way of life you know how?Sohn : Exactly . I do screw Chicago . It ’s been my home for virtually all of my aliveness and I still get excited visiting neighborhoods and Downtown . It sure has its issues , but I feel confident that these are utterly resolvable .
One of the perks of give birth some type of notoriety , besides being able-bodied to clout one of the " penalty box " table at Publican , is the power to translate that into biotic community unspoiled . Working with the Shriver Center ( the organization behind A predilection for Change ) or the Intonation Music Workshop ( chanting ) is plainly the right affair to do . There is no question that I feel a responsibleness to pass off on the skilful fortune that I was so lucky to get from Hot Doug ’s . I ask very small of people : Do n’t litter , and do help those who are less golden than you .
Have you been to Hot " G " Dog yet ? How does it feel to have your former chefs carrying the torch , at least somewhat?Sohn : I have not been to Hot " G " Dog . I will say that I wish everyone there the best of lot and success . I know firsthand how tough a business sector it is .
What do you spend most of your sentence doing ? Do you have any exciting projects in the pipeline that Chicago sausage lovers should be aware of?Sohn : Most of my prison term is spend going to Cubs game , travel , spend time with friends , cooking ( I truly enjoy getting back into the kitchen - at dwelling house ! ) , recital , penning , rarely having to be anywhere at a sure prison term . It ’s incredibly liberating and I highly recommend it to everyone .
I ’ve also been trying to stave in off the panic that will inevitably occur with need to provide an income . So far , that ’s going pretty well . The bourbon aid .
So , how do you take your bourbon?Sohn : To clarify , I like Scotch , neat , in the wintertime , and bourbon , on the Rock , in the summer . Having said that , I ’m also not a stickler to this rule . I ’m happy to have a prissy single malt liquor on a toasty summertime morning … I mean , even .
Sign up herefor our casual Chicago email and be the first to get all the food / boozing / play in town .
