Skyline chili is one of several chili parlor chains in Cincinnati
By Kevin Williams
A pot of homemade chili is a great comfort on a cold winter's day. Amish cooks love chili because it is a classic one-pot dish that fits in well with Plain culinary traditions. Many Amish will use sausage instead of hamburger or even venison.
Here in my area of the country chili is elevated to a different level with Cincinnati-style versions dominating the menus. Locals order chili by "ways" (I know, probably sounds odd to those outside of Greater Cincinnati). The predominant chili parlors in Cincinnati are Skyline and Gold Star (I've always been more of a Skyline fan) An example of the "ways"
- Two-way: spaghetti topped with chili
- Three-way: spaghetti, chili, and cheese
- Four-way: spaghetti, chili, onions, and cheese
- Four-way bean: spaghetti, beans, chili, and cheese[
- Five-way: spaghetti, beans, chili, onions, and cheese
If you are a carnivore, the five way is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned. Anyway (ha, unintentional pun), back to the Amish.....the chili isn't quite so complicated in their kitchens, just a simmering pot of goodness. Here is a recipe that first appeared in The Amish Cook column back in 1999.
- HOMEMADE CHILI
- 11/2 lb. of fresh ground beef
- 3 cup tomato juice
- 1 can of kidney beans
- 2 medium onions
- 1 Tbls. of chili powder
- ¼ -½ cup of brown sugar
- salt to taste
- Brown hamburger and onion in a deep pot.
- Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Spaghetti can also be cooked and added to the soup.
- Cook until spaghetti is done, about 5 – 10 minutes on medium high.
Irene
Hey Kevin! I love the recipes..do you have a recipe for your favorite, the 5 way chili?????
Joe Blust
Hay Kevin, just to let you know that the original chili was "Empress Chili" then Skyline Chili and then in the 1960's began Gold Star. To me Empress is the best. It was owned by a couple of brothers named Kiradjieff. In the 60's one of the sons named Joe Kiradjieff owned it and Joe then sold it to a group about 4-5 years ago. Joe is in, I think, his 80's now. Joe is a good friend of mine. So just letting you know. Like the Skyline group, owned by Nick Lambrinedes family. Nick died about a yr. ago, and it is owned by the family. My wife and I justed moved from Bright, In. to Guilford, In. Mike Lambrinedes, a great grandson of Nicks, bought our house.
Kevin
Thanks for the post, Joe, I have heard others say the same (that Empress is the best)....I'll have to try it sometime, I never have. Being in Middletown, I'm stuck with the "Cincinnati chains", would love to try Empress and I've heard Camp Washington Chili (I think that is what it is called) is pretty good too!
Kevin
My former sister-in-law is from Bright...last name is Kailholz....