Cincy Chili - Can it Work Elsewhere?

[15fan]

I think there are 2 battles that would have to be won:

1) The name. You say chili to someone outside the tri-state, and they think regular chili. Texas style. Comes in a cup or a bowl. Not over pasta. If we want pasta, then we will go get Italian or Chinese.

2) The region. I think it will have a better chance of succeeding (a) where there are tri-state transplants, and/or (b) where the weather is cold for a good bit of the year. In my part of the world, the growing season is long. We pick stuff out of gardens a lot longer than you do 400+ miles to the north. We can grill out pretty much all year round. We also have much better access to fresh seafood. Add in all of the barbecue (Western NC vs. Eastern NC vs. Texas vs. Memphis...) in this part of the world, and the reality is that we have a lot of other things that are going to sound better and taste better than Cincinnati chili.

[LoganBuck]

I would like to see a Cincinnati Chilli Style Pizza. I need to make one myself to see if it works. You could do it 3, 4, or 5 way. The Chilli would be the sauce and the cheese would go on top. Has anyone seen this or has it been tried?

[reds1869]

I would like to see a Cincinnati Chilli Style Pizza. I need to make one myself to see if it works. You could do it 3, 4, or 5 way. The Chilli would be the sauce and the cheese would go on top. Has anyone seen this or has it been tried?

Donatos did it a few years ago but I didn't try it. I like the idea in theory.

[KronoRed]

I loved the Cincy chilli pizza from Donatos, it was a heart attack on a crust but good.

[TC81190]

I would like to see a Cincinnati Chilli Style Pizza. I need to make one myself to see if it works. You could do it 3, 4, or 5 way. The Chilli would be the sauce and the cheese would go on top. Has anyone seen this or has it been tried?

always thought of this. I'm surprised LaRosas never collaborated with Skyline for that, similar to how they have a Montgomery Inn pizza

[IslandRed]

I think there are 2 battles that would have to be won:

1) The name. You say chili to someone outside the tri-state, and they think regular chili. Texas style. Comes in a cup or a bowl. Not over pasta. If we want pasta, then we will go get Italian or Chinese.

2) The region. I think it will have a better chance of succeeding (a) where there are tri-state transplants, and/or (b) where the weather is cold for a good bit of the year. In my part of the world, the growing season is long. We pick stuff out of gardens a lot longer than you do 400+ miles to the north. We can grill out pretty much all year round. We also have much better access to fresh seafood. Add in all of the barbecue (Western NC vs. Eastern NC vs. Texas vs. Memphis...) in this part of the world, and the reality is that we have a lot of other things that are going to sound better and taste better than Cincinnati chili.

Good post. It's funny you mentioned barbecue, because chili inspires similar regional debates, and it's a tough sell to bring in something that's not the way it's done around there.

Personally, I prefer making my own Texas-style chili and then making a three-way with it. Each to our own, I guess.

[Unassisted]

I wonder how it would taste if one of the "ways" was a layer of jalapenos. I can imagine that people here wouldn't even try it without that being an option.

As much as I would enjoy it, I realize that chili so different from Texas chili would never fly here in Texas, except with midwestern transplants like me.

[LoganBuck]

I wonder how it would taste if one of the "ways" was a layer of jalapenos. I can imagine that people here wouldn't even try it without that being an option.

As much as I would enjoy it, I realize that chili so different from Texas chili would never fly here in Texas, except with midwestern transplants like me.

I don't think the jalapenos would work on the Skyline. I love jalapenos, but not on Skyline, it just doesn't sound good.

[VR]

Thanks to the many plugs on RZ.....I tried it several years ago on a stopover at the Cincy airport. It was the farthest thing from 'chili' that I've ever tasted, east coast...west coast...anywhere in between.

No offense to the fine people of Cincy...but trust me, it's a Cincy thing.

[Raisor]

Steak n Shake carries it's own version of pasta/chili all over the place.

[Yachtzee]

We have some Skyline joints up in Northeast Ohio. I think Skyline could work just about anywhere because it's a unique alternative to the usual burgers and fries served by most fast food joints. However, I think the key to bringing it to new areas is to explain the origins of the chili so that people know it isn't just crazy way Cincinnatians decided to modify Texas chili, but rather it is a thing unto itself, having little relation to Texas chili beyond the name "chili."

[Kingspoint]

Like barbecue ribs and spaghetti sauce, "good" chili has a different meaning to everybody.

What one person likes, another dislikes and vice-versa.

I've had chilis, ribs and spaghetti sauces that many people will claim as the greatest they've ever had, and I can't stand them.

Regional flavors mean everything.

Also, the older you get, the more spice you need because your tastebuds deteriorate (like sight, hearing, and smelling) over age.

[TeamCasey]

I think the fact that it's called chili hurts it elsewhere. I'm from the northeast and I find it to be an odd concoction ...... but I'm stuck in the notion of what I call chili.

The first time I had it, I said ..... oh .... it's Alpo on spaghetti. I like it better now ..... except for the big pile of cheese.

[TeamCasey]

Like barbecue ribs and spaghetti sauce, "good" chili has a different meaning to everybody.

That's true. I'm not even a huge fan of true Texas chili which is all meat. I like fresh peppers (hot and bell), onions and beans in mine. My chili is more of a garden chili.

[RFS62]

Thanks to the many plugs on RZ.....I tried it several years ago on a stopover at the Cincy airport. It was the farthest thing from 'chili' that I've ever tasted, east coast...west coast...anywhere in between.

No offense to the fine people of Cincy...but trust me, it's a Cincy thing.

Yeah, calling it chili is really a misnomer. It's more like a sauce to me. Not bad, but not what I think of when I want chili.