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Cincinati Chili

eteller

eteller

Addicted Member
So I've always been curious about those $4 cans of Skyline chili in Kroger and finally broke down and got one. Never been to Cincinnati so this was new to me, but I'm no stranger to Greek hot dog chili. Made it last night, a 'three way'. Chili, cheese and onions over thin spaghetti. I gotta say for the ease of prep and taste factor this was a winner. The wife who never eats chili dogs liked it better than I did.

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Just got back from visiting the Cincy area last week. Having been there many times on business, I had never eaten at a Skyline joint. So, since this may be my last time there, I went there to eat. Got a 5-way. I have to say that I was not impressed with the chili. It was more like a sauce than actual chili (that I am used to). The method of putting chili on top of spaghetti with about 5 pounds of cheddar cheese is just weird! Of course, it's a Cincinnati thing.
:)
 
Pretty much my favorite food for years. My college roommate was from Cincy and took me to the original Skyline restaurant one time. I was hooked thereafter. Whenever we're somewhere that carries it by the can we'll pick up a few. My wife will grab seasoning packets from Kroger so she can make some up with ground turkey (better than it sounds) since she can't tolerate beef.

Made it last night, a 'three way'. Chili, cheese and onions over thin spaghetti.
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Actually, that would be a 'four way with onions' (the spaghetti counts as one of the 'ways').
 
MTalley said:
Actually, that would be a 'four way with onions' (the spaghetti counts as one of the 'ways').
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I'm an East coast noob :). Peerson is right it is saucy but that way it coats the noodles, as for the cheese I didn't add as much as have seen in pictures but had to add more as it kind of melts into the dish.I just bought two more cans, gonna experiment tonight with it. I see recipes all over the net for it I could try but this is cheap and easy which is a plus. My wife works later Mon-Wed so I'm on my own for dinner and when I cook for one I get lazy, English muffin pizzas is another stable dinner.
 
Liked the Skyline some years ago, never tried the canned. There's a local place near here (Canandaiuga NY) that started serving a good version. Should be recipes online. The flavor is a bit different than what you might usually make as chili.
 
I was in Wisconsin, (or was it Michigan) on a job working outside all day in the middle of winter.
By the end of the day we needed food and alcohol.
We found a nice little pub in the middle of nowhere, ordered some beers, and began looking at the menu.
There was a buzz going on in the restaurant: The chilli, the chilli, have you tried the chilli? Omg the chilli! The chilli!!!!!

Our waitress came back and asked what we'll have.
I said, obviously, I guess we need to have the chilli.
I mean hell, freezing our butts off all day, wet gloves sticking to arctic cold steel, and noses turning black from frostbite (not really, but damn close), chilli sounded like just what the doctor ordered.

What arrived smelled like chilli, because it was obviously laden with chilli powder, but how it actually appeared looked more like yesterday's spaghetti sauce and noodles all stirred together with chilli powder.
Never seen such **** in all my life.
We ate it because we were hungry, but in my book, I'd hardly call it chilli.
But after talking to a bunch of people around the area the next day, it seems to be that that's the norm for the region.

Speaking of spaghetti.....
Did you know there's such a thing as white people spaghetti, and black people spaghetti?

I learned this from a black friend of mine.

White people spaghetti is the noodles on the plate with sauce ladled on the top.
Black people spaghetti is the sauce with the noodles all stirred in.
(At least this is what he swore by) :)
 
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I do intend to try making the Cincy-style chili at home. Although, I am going to use REAL Tex-Mex Chili that actually tastes like chili (at least what I think of as chili) Kansas City Style. And, I will definitely not put that great big pile of cheese on top. Just a smidge is enough for me.
 
bbqjoe said:
Did you know there's such a thing as white people spaghetti, and black people spaghetti?

I learned this from a black friend of mine.

White people spaghetti is the noodles on the plate with sauce ladled on the top.
Black people spaghetti is the sauce with the noodles all stirred in.
(At least this is what he swore by) :)
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I bet you're talking about BBQ spaghetti, big thing down by Memphis. I've had it and made it, not a fan.
 
Skyline was of course the original, it was a restaurant run by a Greek guy who made his chili by boiling the hamburger in stock rather than frying it in a pan. And the spices are a motley crew of flavors including a bit of chocolate IIRC. I loved the stuff but if you go in thinking it's Tex-mex 'chili' you will be disappointed. The beans are cooked separate and you can get em if you want.

Skyline does a Chili Dog that you have to eat with a fork. With tons of hot sauce.



The wife and I now have any and all chili on pasta if we're in the mood. I like macaroni, or spaghetti, but any shape works.

I don't think black folks have a corner on pasta with the sauce mixed in. Some Italians would put in a little to keep the pasta from sticking together, similar to using olive oil on freshly drained pasta. I never knew it was even considered a black thing. No matter, eat it how you like it. :thumbsup:
 
I think the big difference in their chili is a significant amount of cinnamon and maybe allspice. It uses chocolate, but many chilis do.
 
Well, I'm sure I'd eat it if I were hungry.
But I'm also pretty sure I'd rather eat a can Wolf Brand chili poured over a bag of Fritos.

In my world, "chili" is Carne Adovada.
Pork stewed in a blenderized puree of whole chile pods and garlic.
 
I ate Skyline all the time once a location was opened in beautiful Oxford, OH. My specialty was the Jumbo Ten Way. That is two jumbo five-ways to go. It is NOT chili in a traditional sense, but a meat sauce with Greek seasoning. Something like you would find in a Greek-inspired lasagna. Freaking awesome with a little Tabasco and the oyster crackers on top. Cinnamon, allspice, cocoa, cloves, bay leaves, chili powder, tomato sauce, and the usual stuff. I forget. I have a couple of recipes from way back. Some of the ones online are very accurate.

There was also Bruno's Pizza at 50 cents a slice, or a whole slice pie for $4.00. Good times.
 
We have a few “Hard Times Chili” places in the DC burbs, they do the Cincinnati style but also a true Texas style and Terelinga red style. I prefer the traditional Texas kind.
 
I have never had Skyline. We have a place called Fred n Reds that been open since 1923. You can get their chili straight or with beans. In a bowl or on top of spaghetti. They also make their own tamales that are served covered in chili and shredded cheese. I like the Jumbo spaghetti with 1 bunch of tamales on top covered with straight chili with dill pickle slices and thinly sliced onion and lots of Parmesan cheese on top. It's delicious and a belt buster.
When people who moved away come back for holidays it's not uncommon for them to take 20-30 lbs of brick chili home to put in the freezer. It's addictive and only has a curved counter for seating with the ladies dishing up your food in the center.
 
sfox52 said:
We have a few “Hard Times Chili” places in the DC burbs, they do the Cincinnati style but also a true Texas style and Terelinga red style. I prefer the traditional Texas kind.
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This is how I do it. I order the hard times cincy spice and make it at home. I add red Cheyenne pepper to jazz it up but otherwise I like it prepared as suggested on the box.
 
We have made the Hard Times Cincinnati spice kits at home, but for some reason the traditional one gives me bad heartburn. I had to get an endoscopy last year after we had it for dinner one night.
 
Well I live in Cincinnati, but I'm not a huge fan, I'm originally from the east coast though so maybe that has something to do with it. I don't know what that stuff is but it definitely isn't chili...:D
 
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