As summer winds down, we couldn’t finish off summer features for Lhyme without a proper Chili Dog recipe, and who better to pair it with than Lulu Robles? Check out the recipe below! 

I recently caught up with Lulu Robles to learn about all things Lulu, music, and food. Lulu has always been deeply passionate about music and began taking it more seriously around three years ago when she released her first song. She started playing the piano at 16, later picking up the ukulele, and has always loved songwriting. Growing up in Mexico, she was influenced by her dad, who listened to a lot of English-language pop and rock music. One of the first songs she remembers hearing was by U2. Currently living in Cancun, Lulu is planning to move to NYC in early August for more musical opportunities. While Cancun offers beautiful views and beaches, it lacks a vibrant music scene that Lulu is in search of. 

This summer, Lulu released her latest single, “Never An Us”. Initially, she wanted to only release music with a consistent sound and style but has since explored a mix of pop and folk music. Her genre style leans more towards pop, with her music influenced by Taylor Swift, who she saw perform in Paris, and Alanis Morissette. She also loves The Lumineers and is particularly inspired by Halsey’s lyrics. Oasis is her all-time favorite band, admired for their use of instruments and sound. Lulu enjoys a blend of pop-folk and pop-rock, reflecting her diverse musical tastes. Currently, Lulu’s Spotify playlist features a lot of Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, and Alex Turner’s debut solo EP “Submarine”. She also listens to Taylor Swift’s latest album, “The Killers”.

So what’s next for Lulu? She is eager to record another song this year, having already released “Never An Us” this summer. Her next song is already written; she will just take time this summer to record it. During her visit to NYC this August, she plans to play music, meet singers and songwriters, and network within the music industry. She also wants to explore various organizations and venues in NYC to further focus on her music. In the long term, Lulu aspires to tour, regardless of venue size, aiming to connect with people, create relatable music, and give fans something to sing along to. She wants her fans always to remember their feelings are valid. 

I can’t wait to hear more new music Lulu has in store!

Follow Lulu Robles on Instagram

When it comes to food, Lulu’s all-time favorite food is chili cheese hot dogs, which remind her of childhood parties and growing up. She could eat them every day and has even enjoyed them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are her perfect meal when paired with potato chips. She also loves any kind of chocolate, especially Marinela snack cakes, which are cream-filled cake rolls with pineapple and other fillings. Although she could eat them daily, she refrains due to their high sugar content but enjoys them from time to time. Her two favorite cuisines and Mexican and Italian. She loves pizza, spaghetti, and gnocchi for Italian food, and for Mexican food, she enjoys chilaquiles, noting that many Mexican dishes feature tortillas as a main ingredient. For her sweet tooth, she loves creme brulee, and is obsessed with brownies 🙂 

For this feature, I decided to make Lulu’s favorite meal, Chili Cheese Hot Dogs. This dish ia a savory and indulgent treat, consisting of a grilled or steamed hot dog placed in a warm, soft hot dog bun. I grilled the hotdogs for this recipe. Then top the hot dogs with a rich, hearty chili made from ground beef, beans, and tomatoes, and a blend of spices. The chili is smothered with melted cheese, typically cheddar, which adds a creamy tangy flavor that compliments the spicy chili. Typical toppings added to the chili cheese hot dog include diced onion, jalapenos, and extra layers making this a flavorful and satisfying meal. Check out the recipe below! 

Grilled Chili Cheese Dogs 

Ingredients for hot dogs

*makes five hot dogs

• Five split-top hot dog buns (I used Pepperidge Farms hot dog buns)
• Five large beef hot dogs (I used Ball Park Grillmaster hot dogs)
• 1 Roma tomato, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
• 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
• fresh cilantro, chopped

Ingredients for chili

Ingredients for cheese sauce

• 2 tablespoons grass-fed butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8oz block sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat the oil and cook the beef until the meat is no longer pink; drain.
2. In the same large saucepan, saute onion, peppers, and garlic for about two minutes until onions are translucent.
3. Add the beef back to the saucepan.
4. Stir in the beans, water, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer covered for about 30 minutes.
6. Light the grill and set it to medium heat for an outdoor grill. For an indoor grill/air fryer, use low heat temperature and use 2-minute increments to rotate hot dogs.
7. The cheese sauce can be warmed up as the hot dogs cook simultaneously.  (Go to step 12 for this part)
8. Once the grill is warm, place hot dogs on the grill.
9. Continuously rotate each hot dog one-quarter turn as they brown.
10. Cook until the internal temperature is about 150 degrees.
11. Remove hot dogs from the grill and serve.
12. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it lightly begins to bubble.
13. Also, melt the butter in another saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the bubbling butter.
14. Stir constantly until a roux forms for about 2 minutes.
15. Slowly pour the warm milk into the roux while constantly whisking.
16. Continue cooking and whisking until the mixture thickens for about 5 minutes.
17. Stir in the cheese and whisk until the grated cheese is completely melted.
18. Salt to taste and whisk until the sauce is smooth.
19. Plate the grilled hot dogs in the buns and top with chili. Pour/drizzle the cheese sauce on top of the chili.
20. Garnish with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and cilantro on top. Serve and enjoy!