Cincinnati Chili

[smirkymonkey]

What do you think? We are having an argument at work. Our company is based in Cinci and we are having a Summit there with an East Coast Client. Half the people want to have a "Skyline Chili" lunch which is this, in an East Coast person's opinon, an abomination. The midwestern people love it. Our clients are New Englanders. The other half of us are East Coast people who think it sounds awful.

Anyone from Cinci want to describe it? Sounds awful? Can anyone convince us?

[NobodyHere]

1. It's delicious and fairly easy to make as well.

Granted it does take a while.

[hlthe2b]

2. I sort of like the chilli--it is all the other stuff they add to it that is sort of OTT

Some places sell the chilli in a can, which you could taste.. I think what makes it unique is the meat is very finely ground and the added cumin, cloves, allspice, chocolate, worcestershire sauce and cinnamon (in addition to the usual chili spices).

Here is a recipe for it that is probably pretty close to Skyline's:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/authentic-cincinnati-chili/

[GeorgeGist]

3. Chili on spaghetti ...

its fine. Get a life where you don't fret about nonsense.

[smirkymonkey]

23. Lighten up Francis, it's the Lounge.

[rurallib]

4. never forget the first time I had it

had a lump in my gut that didn't pass for a day.
Never had it again.
All my colleagues from Cincy said it was great. Blah.

[d_r]

5. When in Rome

Eat the nasty "chili"

[elleng]

6. I, an east coast person, don't care for it.

My husband, an Ohioan who lived in Cinti for many years, loved it. I gave it to him as a birthday gift one year, and I ate it gingerly.

[Xipe Totec]

7. What's cooked in Cincinnati, stays in in Cincinnati. And that's a good thing. nt

[ProfessorGAC]

19. Except The Ribs At Montgomery Inn

The rest i agree with. (BTW: The Boathouse on the riverfront is owned by the same people, so ribs are the same there.)

Been to Cincy MANY times. You can have it.

[mackerel]

8. This might be the one and only time I balked at chocolate.

I say go with the Chili anyway on account of it's a Cincinnati thing.

[Xipe Totec]

21. Have you ever heard of a Filipino dish called Chocolate Meat (Dinuguan) ?

http://www.food.com/recipe/filipino-chocolate-meat-dinuguan-377350

Hint: No chocolate bars are harmed in the preparation of this dish.


It's actually actually tasty, if you go for that sort of dish...

[Brother Buzz]

9. I discovered it when I had a job in Cincinnati. It was totally passable pasghetti.....

but I thought it was a stretch to call it chili.

[kentauros]

10. Confuse everyone

and serve 'em this:

[olddots]

11. I love it

Never met a chili I didn't like .

[noamnety]

12. What are the other options on the menu?

You'll need to have some glutenfree and vegan options for a group. Maybe the people who don't want the chili could dip into those options.

[Enthusiast]

16. I eat several varieties of the gluten free pasta. Cooked correctly it isn't at all bad.

My wife eats it and she isn't gluten intolerant.

[smirkymonkey]

25. We do have gluten free and vegan people in the group.

Unfortunately, this convention center caterer does not have a lot of healthy options, besides salad. I am going to have to work with them.

[DawgHouse]

13. These West Coasters think it looks like Jailhouse Spaghetti

or tastes like Poor Man College Food!

http://www.movoto.com/blog/opinions/ohio-foods-taste-test/

[hobbit709]

14. Whatever it is, it ain't chili.

It's some kind of spaghetti sauce with beans.

[irisblue]

15. Cincy chili is an abomination

Let them it once and they will agree too. They have some salads and baked potatoes there for non chili eaters at Skyline.

[smirkymonkey]

22. That's what I think most of our New England clients are going to think.

Usually I am big on sampling the regional cuisine. But in the case, I think we will make an exception.

[Enthusiast]

17. I have made my own version of Cincinnati Chili several times and loved it!

I probably use more of a higher quality chili powder than Skyline does. No chocolate (not that there is anything wrong with that). And more cheese! More freshly grated extra sharp cheddar. I slip in a few minced habeneros too.

[Snobblevitch]

18. I have eaten Cincinnati chili and ehile there

was nothing wrong with it, it wasn't anything to rave about either. I think there are people in Cincinnati who love the stuff but a lot of it is about nostalgia. I think you should have it available at a lunch, but have other food available as well. (Maybe some burgoo from a ross the state line?)

[smirkymonkey]

27. What is burgoo?

There is also some kind of sausage made with oats that is popular out there. I forgot what it's called, but it sounds kind of scary.

[Snobblevitch]

30. Burgoo is a kind of stew made in Kentucky.

I was joking when I suggested serving it to your east coast guests.

Although it's called Cincinnatti chili, I too consider it more like a bolognese (spaghetti) sauce.

[smirkymonkey]

32. The thing is a lot of our New Englanders and Bostonians

happen to be part or whole italian. I think they might not go for it, but thank you for your input

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Midwestern People

Chili ain't like that in Chicago, and we're from the midwest too. I think that's very particular to south Ohio.

[smirkymonkey]

26. I think so too. But since a lot of our midwest people trained at HQ in Cinci

they were probably exposed to this for a number of years and got used to it. I guess it must be an acquired taste.

[smirkymonkey]

24. Thanks everyone for your input!

I appreciate it!

[valerief]

28. I'm a New Englander who used to live in the Cincy area. Skyline Chili doesn't

taste like chili to me. It's spaghetti and soupy meat bits. No beans! What kind of chili has no beans? It's not awful, but it's not chili as we know it.

[Ron Green]

29. Chili con carne has no beans.

That is, if it's the real stuff as served in Texas.

[valerief]

31. Well, Wikipedia says, "Main ingredients: Chili peppers, meat, tomatoes, often made with beans," so

I guess it doesn't have to have beans. Bettycrocker.com puts beans in it, however. So does foodnetwork.com and bbcgoodfood.com. Bonappetit.com doesn't include beans, though.

So who has the final say on chili con carne? Well, we know it has to include meat. That's in the name. But beans are optional, although usually included.

BUT not all chili is chili con carne, so I'd say real chili includes beans. Maybe not real chili con carne but real chili.