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Food / drink 🍗 Cincinnati chili

Maister

Maister

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_chili (Cincinnati chili - Wikipedia)

LP recently announced she likes it 3 way. She also made it known her preferred way to have chili is served with spaghetti and cheese.

Cinci chili is a distinct breed not to be confused with other types of chili. It's different because the chili parlors (yeah, they actually refer to them as 'parlors') make their chili with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and chocolate. They also traditionally serve it five different 'ways' and the most unique thing about those ways is that the chili is served on spaghetti.
Two-way = chili and spaghetti
Three-way = chili, spaghetti, and cheese
Four-way = chili, spaghetti, cheese, and onions
Five-way = chili, spaghetti, cheese, onions, and beans

The first time I heard of chili with spaghetti I thought it sounded strange. A couple guys I knew in the service were from Ohio and swore that was the only way to eat chili. It wasn't until years later, but the first time I actually tried it was quite impressed (ordered a four-way at a Skyline in Cincinnati). Since then whenever I'm in Ohio I always make it a point to stop at a chili parlor (usually Skyline unless I'm in Cincinnati where the attractive choices increase exponentially). My favorite Cinci chili is probably Gold Star. I like it because it's less soupy than Skyline and the cloves are a little more muted.

Recently, a regional grocery chain (Meijer) started carrying cans of Skyline and I've gotten it a few times, but it tends to be pricey, and frankly there isn't the same ambience when you're not eating at a chili parlor (ah, nothing quite like Blue Ash Chili for a nice dive).

Have you ever tried Cinci style chili? If so, what is your favorite? What way do you like your chili?
 
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actually, dear, my 3 way is cheese, onions and sour cream...

it's a great chili any way you serve it - the secret ingredients are chocolate, cinnamon, and cumin seeds imho - I use the Frugal Gourmet Cooks American recipe version
 
About four years ago, my then-girlfriend and I went to Cincinnati to visit her family. We went to Skyline and her mom said "I'll have a 3-way". I snickered and then she hit me in the arm and we all laughed. :lmao:
 
illinoisplanner said:
her mom said "I'll have a 3-way". I snickered and ..:
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This is probably a rite of passage (I know I did it). And probably also worthy of an eyeroll from the locals (boy, you sure can tell they're outtatowners if they think THAT old chestnut is actually funny....)
 
My mom always served chili with spaghetti, but she broke the uncooked pasta and mixed it in the chili. She used a seasoning packet. We're from Louisville, but I don't know how they make chili there.

Our stores sell canned and frozen Skyline chili. I get the frozen kind because chili from cans scares me. I put shredded cheese on mine.
 
I was on a geology field trip to Ohio in 1997 when I was introduced to Cincy chili via Skyline. Gold Star works too. I used to fly between Vermont and South Carolina with stopovers in CVG from time to time and would try to hit up Gold Star going through. I should probably apologize to those who rode the plane from CVG to Columbia with me though.

I make cincy-style chili from time to time- grind the meat pretty fine with an anttique grinder from my great grandparents, then get the spices and consistency right... mm.
 
Many instances when I have leftover chili and not quite enough to split between the 3 of us, I'll cook spaghetti and add cheese. The first time The Girl saw that she was confused because I told her we were having chili that night so I had to explain what 'skyline' chili was. I usually called it 3 and a 1/2 because I already had beans in my chili, but rarely added onions.


I was a Skyline virgin until about 10 years ago when I had to go to Dayton for a meeting and the guys said we had to go to Skyline for lunch...but that's a whole 'nother story.
 
I have lived in SW Ohio for the last three years (until recently) and have had Cinci chili - once. I guess some person from Cincinnati decided they liked the chili they had in the southwest US and tried to do it make their own and got it completely wrong.

"Let's take a nicely textured savory stew and change the texture 180 degrees so that we get to put something in our mouths that feels like stringy worms." "Oh, and while we're at it, let's use way too much cinnamon."

Sufficed to say, I do not like Cincinnati style chilli.
 
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I'm with btrage on this, I love chili of all kinds and I am intrigued by the idea of Cinci chili. I'd never heard of this. If I put regular old chili over spaghetti in an attempt to do the Cinci thing am I gonna be disappointed in the outcome?
 
ursus said:
I'm with btrage on this, I love chili of all kinds and I am intrigued by the idea of Cinci chili. I'd never heard of this. If I put regular old chili over spaghetti in an attempt to do the Cinci thing am I gonna be disappointed in the outcome?
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Probably not, but it won't be the same thing. mendelman is right about it being quite different from 'regular' chili...hmmmm, wish we had a recipe for Cinci chili so ursus could see the different ingredients and prep. It's too bad there's no way possible we could look that up.
 
Maister said:
Probably not, but it won't be the same thing. mendelman is right about it being quite different from 'regular' chili...hmmmm, wish we had a recipe for Cinci chili so ursus could see the different ingredients and prep. It's too bad there's no way possible we could look that up.
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Through the magic of google, I'm considering letting Amazon Grocery send me a Christmas present of canned skyline chili.
 
Having been exiled to Kentucky from Michigan over five years ago, I was excited to see coney places. Skyline and Gold Star. I ordered a couple conies and when I took my first bite, I remember thinking something that would get me flagged here if I wrote it out.
 
When I lived up North, I loved it. Cincy is one of favorite cities and visited it many times. I've had both Skyline and Goldstar 5-way.. I've also had Graeter's ice cream, which is also great. Our local Winn Dick Me's carries the pints and they are special treats.
 
Just across the river from Louisville, and downstream from Cincinnati, and we make our chili five-way. I much prefer Gold Star over Skyline, as was mentioned, since Skyline always seems too watery/runny.

I also like western-style chili, the hotter the better.

Since I didn't get lunch today, this is making me seriously hungry.

Where the hell are the pretzels ....?
 
I went to Skyline a couple of times in college but wasn't ever crazy about it, it was just ok. But I didn't ever do the chili on spaghetti thing. My husband grew up in Columbus and he and his family never seemed into it, so I never went out of my way to get it. But maybe I'll give it a try next time we are visiting, if there is a Gold Star around (that name doesn't sound familiar to me).


Whose Yur Planner said:
When I lived up North, I loved it. Cincy is one of favorite cities and visited it many times. I've had both Skyline and Goldstar 5-way.. I've also had Graeter's ice cream, which is also great. Our local Winn Dick Me's carries the pints and they are special treats.
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I did like Greater's!
 
mendelman said:
I have lived in SW Ohio for the last three years (until recently) and have had Cinci chili - once. I guess some person from Cincinnati decided they liked the chili they had in the southwest US and tried to do it make their own and got it completely wrong.

"Let's take a nicely textured savory stew and change the texture 180 degrees so that we get to put something in our mouths that feels like stringy worms." "Oh, and while we're at it, let's use way too much cinnamon."

Sufficed to say, I do not like Cincinnati style chilli.
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I think I heard that the original Cincinnati chili was made by a Greek cook, and those are Greek or Mediterranean spices. That make sense to me, and I like the combination.
 
There used to be a bar near me that served it. Never tried it though. It was called Cinners. It has since gone out of business and the place in there currently serves Philly Cheesesteaks.
 
bump

I was introduced to the idea of serving chili with pasta for the first time when I was in the service. It wasn't Cincinnati chili, but rather, just regular chili combined with macaroni elbow noodles. I believe it was called 'chili-mac' Cinci chili is a sibling to that dish, but the Mediterranean spices set it apart.

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Sweet chili with cinnamon is something everyone should enjoy. Put it on coneys, put it on spaghetti, put it in dip... it is always good!

I mean it is the Ohio bolognese sauce... ;)
 
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Hink said:
Sweet chili with cinnamon is something everyone should enjoy. Put it on coneys, put it on spaghetti, put it in dip... it is always good!

I mean is the Ohio bolognese sauce... ;)
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It's so versatile!

I wonder if it didn't begin as a hot dog sauce. The texture is so fine.
 
I grew up in TN eating chili with spaghetti noodles, beans, and cheese. My mom didn't add cinnamon. It took me until my teens to realize that it wasn't the way everyone ate it. I don't know if my mom got the recipe from a magazine or if it was simply a way to make the meal go further in a family of 6.

I cannot stand sweet hot dog or burger sauce. There were a couple of regional chains down here that use them and people rave about it.
 
Local restaurant menu
3-Way Chili Includes Chili, Cheese, and Spaghetti
4-Way Chili Includes Chili, Cheese, Spaghetti, and Onions
5-Way Chili Includes Chili, Cheese, Spaghetti, Onions, and Beans
7-Way Chili Includes Chili, Cheese, Spaghetti, Onions, Beans, Green Peppers, and Tomatoes
 
Someone thought a Skyline franchise would be a good idea in my fair 'burg. I estimated it would be closed withing three years and it shut down in month 35. Folks around here do like their chili, just not Skyline's version, I guess. It's about to become a chicken joint.
 
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