Celery, The Nation's Most Underestimated Side Dish!

PapaJoe8:  It's been so long that I don't remember much about the restaurant in question other than it was an extremely nice, full-service establishment with a varied menu.  The house chili, the recipe of which had won an award or cookoff, was excellent.
 
Regarding the celery leaves, I was suggesting they may be a great ingredient for Green Goddess dressing, along with the other green herbs.  

It wasn't Chili's was it? They started on Greenville ave. in Dallas. I was one of the first customers. It was just down the street from my pet store. They had good chili back then. Frank Tolbert had a restaurant in Dallas for awhile but... it was not full service. And, Ida known if he had something at the airport. Maybe SBQ can helps us figure this out?
 
I agree about the Green Goddess and celery. Neat idea!
Joe

No, it wasn't a chili-oriented restaurant at all, but they had a great chili on the menu.  I don't believe it was a chain at all, but I'd say it was similar to a J. Alexander's or something like that.

I remember J. Alexander's.hmm, what do I remember??? Just the name right now. *&^$#
 
SBQ, any ideas???
 
Oh, Twinwillow???
Joe

I use J. Alexander's only as an example of type of menu, but I don't believe it was a chain restaurant.  I'll probably never know the name again.

How long ago was this Mellow?. What I can't figure is how I missed a Dallas restaurant that served award winning chili. There is some hope we can sluth this Mellow. Hey, this is Roadfood!
 
I did some reading and I don't think there was ever a J's in Dallas. Maybe I ate there when in Houston.
 
I can always ask at the Dallas History forum also. I'll see if we can answer it here though.
 
Hmm, wonder if there was celery in that chili?
 
I bet no one, just by tasting it, would ever know that celery was in that BBQ sauce that Bill posted.
 
In many things if you can taste the celery you used too much.
Joe

 Celery in 7-UP is great, especially if you split the stalks and let it sit for a few minutes.
 
 Celery stuffed with pimento cheese is a great snack or appetizer as is celery stuffed with crunchy peanut butter.
 
 I use celery leaves for soup and stock bases with onion and carrots. Also for use in dips. Good flavor but not as crunchy.
 
  David O.

PapaJoe8

How long ago was this Mellow? What I can't figure is how I missed a Dallas restaurant that served award winning chili. There is some hope we can sluth this Mellow. Hey, this is Roadfood!

I did some reading and I don't think there was ever a J's in Dallas. Maybe I ate there when in Houston.

It wasn't a J. Alexander's, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a chain restaurant.  What I can tell you is they weren't fast food.  I would describe it as upscale casual, which is why I used the example.  The chili recipe, according to the menu, was award-winning, but I don't know that the restaurant itself was involved in the award or any contest/cook-off.   Additionally, I suspected then and I suspect now (though I could be wrong) that there was some form of alcohol in the chili (beer, whiskey, wine).   My visit to the restaurant was in the 1985 to 1986 range, during one of my many pilgrimages to Irving and Las Colinas.   (Hello to "Buns" Broadwater wherever you are.)

Chef, 7-UP and celery... didn't know that one. Sooo you just eat the celery afterwords? Celery, onions, and carrots sound good sounds good for lotsa stuff!
 
Hmm, this may be harder than I thought Mellow. I was thinkin a Dallas restaurant. Mid cities gets tricky. That explains why I didn't know about it. I used DFW allot back then though.
 
Joe

Well, it was in the DFW airport, so I considered it a Dallas restaurant.

Bill V, Dawn T & I were just teasing you. You did not come anywhere close to being in trouble. You’re just going to have to redouble your efforts on that score!  Oh, And, DT, I think I know just exactly what that “something funny” was that you were thinking of Y'see, Bill, I don't think you could be as bad as we are! 
Mellow, I am thinking that it really may have been a Chili’s at DFW. Back in the mid-80’s, it would have had several locations in the DullAss region, but was not yet the giant mediocre chain it is now. Papa, I too remember when Chili’s was a single restaurant in Dallas ~ it opened in 1975 at at Greenville & Melody. Larry Lavine started it, and his parent’s owned the locally famous LouAnn’s on Greenville Ave., and when they closed it, he opened the Kitty Hawk in the LouAnn’s location which only lasted for about a year (I worked there for a short while). Then he & his Kitty Hawk partner opened the first Chili’s. Contrary to its name, Chili’s was mainly a burger place back then, but they did have an excellent chili that could be ordered by the bowl or on a burger. The burger was “Chili’s Trip”, and also had caramelized onions on it. YUM! It’s no longer on the now-giant-chain’s menu, but if you ask for it, they will make it. Oh And, yes, my Mother's friend Steve (RIP) was a hoot! He had a great sense of humor (if that isn’t already obvious) besides being a great Texas/Southern cook. I have a copy of his cookbook & I treasure it. 
Joe, your dip sounds divine. I think it would make an awesome salad dressing! 
Bdtn, I love celery root or celeriac as it is also called. It is not the root of the kind of celery that is commonly known. It has totally replaced potatoes when I make a pot roast & bake root veggies to go with. & I have done a ½ & ½ mashed potatoes & celeriac dish; it is really good. 
 
CiaoMeOwww SBQ

The restaurant in question wasn't Chili's, though I did eat at Chili's original location back in those days.  Hey, I'll bet there isn't a thread about cauliflower as long as this celery thread! And don't get any wise ideas, either, PapaJoe8!

Naa, no Cauliflower! But... maybe Brussel Sprouts? The worlds most misunderstood vegetable.
 
The Origional chili's was real neat when they first opened. You could have a Margarita while standing in line. The line made a U. Fun place to talk to folks! Small world that you have been there Mellow.
 
If they had served Chili stuffed celery they might still be around?
Joe

Had some chili rice last night, and it was excellent, though I didn't have all the toppings or lemonade available.  No question that chili over rice works very well.  It's a shame someone doesn't resurrect Shanghai Jimmy's.  I have an idea to try in the future.  Chili ladled over rice that's mildly seasoned with onion, bell pepper, celery, and corn.  In other words, the vegetables would actually be in the rice, and I'd probably top the chili off with cheese and sour cream.  I bet it would be killer.

Did anyone read the article "First Photo of a Human Being Ever?"?
 

 
It shows two men along the Ohio Rive in Cincinnati in 1848.  I understand it's two brothers arguing about how to properly prepare Cincinnati Style Chili.  One insisted on celery and one was appalled by it.  

Yes, I saw that and came to the same conclusion.  

As they say on TV infomercials, "But wait!"  Did you see the 1838 photograph of the man in Paris getting a shoe shine?  I understand he was wearing Texas boots and inquiring as to the location of the nearest chili parlor.  And it wasn't even Paris, Texas! (click to enlarge)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boulevard_du_Temple_by_Daguerre.jpg

joerogo



It shows two men along the Ohio Rive in Cincinnati in 1848.  I understand it's two brothers arguing about how to properly prepare Cincinnati Style Chili.  One insisted on celery and one was appalled by it.  

A lesser known fact about said picture is that just out of the picture and off to the left is the village idiot, so called because instead of simply expressing valid thoughts and opinions of his own, he chose to focus all his time on unnecessarily deriding the conversations of others for no apparent reason other than his own amusement.  Though he thought himself a great humorist, he was always the only one laughing.  He died friendless.  It's a sad story of a sad and pathetic little man. 

Mellow's Chili Rice sounds good! I would suggest oyster crackers  as a side, and some chopped pickled jalapenos as an optional topping. Oh, and also butter and salt cooked in w/ the rice.
 
I hear that now days how to make a good Tex Mex cheese enchilada is a common topic of discussion in Paris France.
 
You don't want to mention beans in chili anywhere near Paris Texas!
 
You don't want to mention Ketchup on a hot dog anywhere near the upper East Coast! Mayo... and Ketchup are common toppings here in Texas.
 
Or... the absence of Celery, with hot wings, anywhere near Buffalo N.Y. Oh, also Ranch Dressing is also a No No in that neck of the woods. Ranch, along with Blue Cheese, is rarely not offered with this dish... in Texas.
 
Even the mention of Chili over pasta will get some weird looks around my neighborhood. Rice with Chili is fine to talk about around the DFW metro area, and in Louisiana, though.
 
I guess we could do a whole thread about what food subjects are not a good idea to bring up in certain areas. :~0
Joe

Yes, I put real butter and Redmond RealSalt in all of my rice.  By the way, I've abandoned oyster crackers in favor of Cheddar Jack Cheez-It crackers (not Pepper Jack).  They ROCK with chili, celery or not. (And I don't even like Cheez-Its!)
 
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/cityofate/2010/08/chili_challenge_tolberts_resta.php

See above.

Nice link Mellow! Sound's like Chili's still makes a good bowl of Texas Chili. Shanghai Jimmy was mentioned by a responder.
 
Cheddar Jack Cheez-Its. Hmm, good idea!
Joe

Oh yeah-cheddar jack Cheez-Its-sounds like a must try!!

Ok, somethin new here;
 
Quiz question #7;
 
Why is Celery a negative calorie vegie?
Joe

PapaJoe8


Ok, somethin new here;

Quiz question #7;

Why is Celery a negative calorie vegie?
Joe

 
That's an easy one.  You burn more calories chewing celery than it has.
 
I wonder if you burn more typing about it?
 
 

PapaJoe in the Roadfood Newsletter  I hope it doesn't go to his head
 
        Thanks to PapaJoe8 for his thread, "Celery, the Nation's Most Underestimated Side Dish," which has garnered an amazing number of responses. Who knew that the healthful stalk would be so provocative? Personally, I wouldn't dream of making chicken soup without it; and let us remember that it is one of the "holy trinity" of southern Louisiana cooking (along with onion and green pepper).

PapaJoe8


Russ, I didn't know folks put celery in Jello. Sounds good though. Thanks! Do you know of any place that serves Jello w/ celery?
Joe

Here in eastern PA, many of the church and fire company fundraising holiday craft fairs serve lunch and this platter from one of the Methodist churches is a classic.  Celery is present in both the cranberry jello salad and the fruited chicken salad.
 

 
 

Gosh, RubyRose, that looks delicious!! My Mom used celery in every one of her jello recipes.Loved it! She also used to saute celery in butter with leftover corn cut off the cob as a side dish.Simple but tasty!!

RubyRose:  First of all you're making me really hungry with that great picture.  Second, I'm still making your baked eggs!
 
Chiliheads:  With the ongoing controversy regarding "no beans-no tomatoes" in Texas chili, what do you make of this statement from the Austin American-Statesman about chili from the famed Texas Chili Parlor: "It's the traditional Lone Star chili. No trendy flavors. Just beef, tomatoes and chili powder in a bowl." Talk about adding confusion to controversy!