The Surprising Truth About Pat Sajak’s Hot Dog Eating Habits
Maggie Sajak Reveals All About Her Dad’s Hot Dog Preferences
Pat Sajak’s Chicago-Style Hot Dog Quirks
In a surprising turn of events, it seems that Pat Sajak, the beloved host of Wheel of Fortune, has some very specific preferences when it comes to hot dogs. His daughter, Maggie Sajak, recently spilled the beans about his eating habits, shedding some light on the topic that has been a major point of contention between them.
Maggie’s Hot Dog Revelation
During a visit to Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago in 2023, Maggie Sajak shared a little-known fact about her father’s hot dog preferences. She made sure to point out that there was no ketchup on her hot dog, a detail she inherited from her dad. In fact, she joked that her Chicago-native father would “probably disown” her if she dared to put ketchup on her hot dog. According to Maggie, Pat “doesn’t even like to mess around” when it comes to the classic ballpark treat.
The Ketchup Debate
It turns out that in Chicago, putting ketchup on a hot dog is considered a major faux pas. CNBC reported that the appropriate condiments for a Chicago-style hot dog include mustard, relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, and celery salt. However, Pat’s Wheel of Fortune co-host, Vanna White, has a different stance on the ketchup debate. White reportedly “doesn’t approve” of Pat’s aversion to ketchup and enjoys putting it on her hot dogs.
The Hot Dog Showdown
Interestingly, White once revealed that the hot dog issue was the only topic she and Pat have ever argued about during their decades-long partnership on Wheel of Fortune. In a statement to Fox News, White mentioned, “Believe it or not, Pat Sajak and I have only had one argument in 36 years and that was over putting ketchup on a hotdog.” While she prefers both ketchup and mustard on her hot dogs, Pat sticks to just mustard. White even acknowledged, “I agree it is [weird].”
Pat’s Perfect Chicago-Style Hot Dog
In an interview with the Chicago Reader in March 2008, Pat reminisced about his upbringing in the Midwest and shared his ideal version of a Chicago-style hot dog. According to him, the perfect hot dog includes a Vienna sausage, a steamed poppy-seed bun, mustard, onions, “tiny little peppers,” and celery salt. While ketchup is off the table, he mentioned that slices of pickles, cucumbers, and tomatoes are optional.
Pat’s Retirement Revelation
Just as the hot dog controversy was settling down, Pat announced in June 2023 that he would be retiring from Wheel of Fortune after more than 40 years as the host. Despite bidding farewell to his hosting duties, he assured fans that he would continue to be involved as a consulting producer on the show for the next three years. Pat’s legacy on Wheel of Fortune will undoubtedly live on, even if his hot dog preferences remain a topic of debate.