MiGirl, I have read a bit about at least some of the different styles. I grew up in Iowa and there was a drive-in not far from my house. Since both of my parents were working professionals whose duties often ran late, I ended up sitting at the counter quite often. The drive-in's coney sauce was fairly liquid, had finely ground meat, and was a light brown, without any noticeable chili-powder "bite" or color. So comfort food during my transition from mid-teens to early adulthood was a hotdog usually dressed with mustard and onions, and sporting a bountiful ladle of their coney sauce. Once I moved away and went to college where coney dogs were not available, I transitioned to pizza. But the memories many have of home cooked meals and doting grandparents are, for me, of drive-ins and hot dog buns, along with the occasional bag of fries or, when feeling rich, onion rings.