Chicagoans know the classic hot‑dog topped with mustard, onions, tomatoes, sport peppers, a pickle spear, celery salt and a splash of sweet relish. What many don’t realize is that the relish’s neon‑green color is a deliberate, historic choice.
From Immigrant Roots to a City Icon
Vienna Beef senior vice president of marketing Tom McGlade explains that the “seven sacred condiments” have been a staple since the company’s beginnings at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Immigrants from Austria‑Hungary, the United Kingdom and India brought canning expertise that helped shape Chicago’s condiment culture.
In the 1920s and ’30s, the Great Depression spurred cheap, filling meals. Early “Depression dogs” featured a simple mix of mustard, onions, relish and sport peppers. Abe Drexler’s Fluky’s cart, opened in 1929 near Halsted and Maxwell, popularized the “Depression Sandwich” – a hot‑dog with the works and fries.
When Relish Went Neon
Vienna Beef’s Chicago Pickle Company (now Chipico) began producing its own relishes in 1925. By the 1940s the company offered two versions: a darker “brown” relish (actually a natural green) and a vivid “green” relish that achieved its electric hue by adding FD&C Blue No. 1, also known as Brilliant Blue FCF.
McGlade says the two relishes tasted the same; the blue dye simply made the green stand out. In the 1980s the labels were updated to “bright green” and “natural” relish, a naming convention that persists today.
Why the Bright Color?
One often‑repeated story suggests the neon shade helped the relish pop in black‑and‑white photographs, making it easier for marketers to showcase the hot‑dog’s toppings. While the anecdote remains unverified, McGlade notes that the shift to color photography in the 1940s coincides with the rise of the vivid green relish.
Local producer Marconi Foods (formerly Formusa) also credits the addition of blue dye for preserving the relish’s green color, preventing it from turning brown over time. Their “Bright Green Hot Dog Relish” and other Chicago‑based brands like Puckered Pickle Co.’s “Super Green” continue the tradition.
The Relish’s Place in Chicago Culture
Today, the neon‑green relish is more than a condiment; it’s a visual symbol of Chicago’s culinary identity. Vienna Beef’s museum displays show the evolution from black‑and‑white images to the colorful stands that line the city’s neighborhoods.
For residents and visitors alike, the bright green relish serves as a reminder of the city’s immigrant heritage, Depression‑era ingenuity, and the enduring love of a well‑crafted Chicago‑style hot‑dog.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
