Skyline Chili, Unique Cincinnati Style Chili
On our way through Cincinnati we stopped at a Skyline Chili. I haven’t been to one in years. Skyline Chili was founded in 1949 in Cincinnati (it’s named after Cincinnati’s skyline) by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides and is known for their chili spaghetti, served five different ways with their unique secret sauce that includes chocolate and cinnamon. I decided to go all the way and ordered the 5-Way, which consists of spaghetti, chili, cheddar cheese, beans & onions.
There are several other restaurants that serve “Cincinnati Style” chili, including Empress Chili, Gold Star Chili, Dixie Chili and Camp Washington Chili.
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on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 11:02 am
You dirty rotten….
You had to post a picture. I’ll be salivating all day thinking about Skyline Chili and not be able to get the monkey off my back.
Anyone have any crack?
on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Wow! Memories! Probably one of the only things I actually miss about Cincinnati (I lived there in 5th & part of 6th grade). My Mom makes an amazing version of this stuff though. What is surprising to me are the ingredients….two of which are chocolate and cinnamon.
Yum!
I wish I could have given you a pointer before you were in Dallas… Babe’s Chicken…. an amazing “chicken dinner house” where you have two choices… chicken or chicken fried steak. If you haven’t been, you must go next time you’re there.
on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
My friends and I have been making skyline-style chili in SF for around 6 months now. If anyone needs a fix, hit me up. :D
on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Damn, this is my favorite friggin Chili, bring some back to SF for the rest of us, I am totally jonseing for it.
Forgot to mention the cinnamon….thats what makes it……
on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I always heard that Empress Chili was the original Cincinnati style chili. Wikipedia agrees (take that for what it’s worth).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati-style_chili
But Skyline has always been my favorite. I’ve been trying to perfect the recipe for years. Here’s the recipe from my last attempt:
http://www.beergeek.com/?p=81
Still needs work…
on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Gold star is my favorite. And oyster crackers on your 5-way? The best things ever.
on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 8:04 am
I had Skyline Chili once in the mid-90s when I was there for a wedding. Maybe it’s because I’m a native Texan, but I didn’t get all the fuss. Spaghetti and oyster crackers with chili is just wrong.
Did anybody see the No Reservations episode in Cleveland? It started with Bourdain and Ruhlman visiting Skyline.
on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 9:14 am
Perhaps you’re familiar with the Oyster Bomb? One fills up the oyster cracker with tabasco sauce, then consumes. It packs a punch.
I’ve done a vegan version of Cincinnati chili (3-way and skyline dip), and believe it or not it came out wonderfully. It was even vetted for by three Cincinnatians.
on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 12:41 pm
you’re forgetting empress chili!! there are still some of those around here in cincinnati!!
on Sunday, December 16th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
YES! I work at Skyline, so I could get that every day if I wanted to..
on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I have lived in Cincinnati all of 52 years.I have never acquired a taste
for Cincinnati style chili!!!It’s okay,but not great!!
on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Yes Empress came first, the Lambrinides bros worked there and took the original recipe with them when they opened Skyline Chili. Also there is no Chocolate or Cinnamon in the Chili, what you’re tasting is Nutmeg.
on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Cuz I live in Canada , we cant get that here , I pick up a bunch in Myrtle Beach .
The guys at the firehall love it
jp