Cincinnati Chili

OldManAP

[id="quote"]quote: [id="quote"]But the garlic and tomato sauce are integral to the recipe. I suspect without the tomato sauce you might be getting closer to a Loosemeat experience. Then what's the point? It thus would not be Cincinnati Chili.

[id="quote"]

It's been a few months since I looked at this, but thought I'd revisit it. Let me get this straight. Should the recipe be made with tomato sauce or with chunks of tomatoes? Because it always seemed to me that it would be with tomato sauce, and that is what Davydd seems to confirm above. I take no issue with tomato sauce whatsoever. It's big ol' chunks of tomato that I don't like...which is kinda why I said:

[id="quote"]quote: [id="quote"]I am okay with tomato sauce, soup, paste, puree, etc.

[id="quote"]

A couple of months ago, it felt a little to me that I was being "attacked" a bit because of a handful of foodstuffs that I either don't like or can't eat for health reasons, and that because of those things that I somehow wasn't "worthy" of Cincinnati-style chili.

But it seems more and more that some folks here may have misconstrued which of these foods were problematic to me, and that I can probably eat this style of chili after all. It would seem to me that my only problem foods fall under the category of "optional toppings" in this particular case (i.e. cheese and chopped onion). Does this sound right at all? (Oh, and just in case anyone is thinking of telling me that I HAVE to have the cheese and onions, I don't eat those items on a Quarter Pounder either, and it doesn't stop being a Quarter Pounder as a result... )

I agree with most of this!  As a Cincy chili lover, I can say that leaving off the cheese, onions and even the pasta still counts as an authentic Cincinnati chili experience.  That's half the fun...designing your own meal from the choices offered.  My favorite order is "Chili plain" and I add only a few drops of hot sauce (the stuff Gold Star provides in packets is excellent...Skyline has Tobasco) and plenty of oyster crackers.  I also order a "double wiener bun" (or two) which is Skyline lingo for a bun with two dogs in it...to which I add mustard and some of the chili from my bowl.  I'm non-dairy, so I don't do cheese, and - for me - the spaghetti and onions obscure the great flavor of the chili too much. 

Interestingly, Skyline once marketed a frozen chili pack with sliced hot dogs and small pasta shells in it.  It was really good, but you couldn't duplicate it in the restaurants and they don't offer it any more. 

I agree with you an the hamburger thing too, although when you try a McDonald's burger without cheese you discover the truth...their meat sucks!

For the other topic, NEVER put chunks of tomato (or of anything else) in Cincinnati chili.  It is a smooth puree with nothing in it larger than the finely-ground beef.

I'm kinda late for this thread, but here goes:

The following recipe is the one that I worked out in the early 80's, when Skyline wasn't cutting corners by diluting their recipe. I can't stand to eat there anymore. All my friends have ever told me was that it was "Dead On" (I went for a few months comparing Skyline and mine). I kept it secret but now other's should know the wonders of this flavor combination. BTW- The secret ingredient for this style of chili is Chocolate.

Skyline (Cincinnati or Greek) Chili

Add 2 lb. Ground Beef to 1/2 qt. water and cook, at medium temp, till fine. (2-3 hrs. or more)
Drain well.


Mix well in blender:

2 onions (chopped)
4 cloves garlic
1 bay leaf
5 whole allspice
5 whole cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
2 1/2 - 3 tbs. chili power
2 Tbs. tarragon vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 oz. chocolate melted in 2 tbs. water
1/2 tsp. cumin
2 beef bouillon cubes
3 drops tobasco sauce
2 cans tomato sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Add to beef and cook a long time (4-5 hrs.)
You can serve at anytime, but BEST to refrigerate over night and reheat.


Serve with :
oysterettes crackers
graded sharp cheddar cheese
kidney beans
chopped onions
Speghetti


Put on episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati and enjoy.

and remember.......Skyline Chili must taste the same going in and coming out, at both ends. Next day on the toilet you should say "Yeah! That was some Good Skyline Chili". Then you know it was made correctly.

It is nice to see a number of threads on this subject.  It warms my heart.

dave1f

.......Skyline Chili must taste the same going in and coming out, at both ends. Next day on the toilet you should say "Yeah! That was some Good Skyline Chili". Then you know it was made correctly.

 

 

Some say that about White Castles..

I live in Alabama but absolutely love Cin. Chili. I have relatives in Cin. and KY and when I visit I stop at Skyline even before I go to their home and get my fix.

They do sell it in the cans here at Kroger's but nothing like the real thing.