A Facebook friend posted a link to a Wikipedia entry for a type of chili that I had never heard of.I learned that Cincinnati chili is a regional style of chili characterized by the way the meat is cooked - it has a thinner consistency - and the use of unusual ingredients such as cinnamon, chocolate or cocoa, allspice, and Worcestershire. It is commonly served over spaghetti or as a hot dog sauce.
This unique version, which has developed a cult-like popularity around the Cincinnati, Ohio area, was created in 1922 by Tom Kiradjieff, a Macedonian immigrant. Tom and his brother, John, opened a small Greek restaurant called the Empress. The restaurant did poorly until Tom started offering a chili made with Middle Eastern spices, which could be served in a variety of ways. He called it his "spaghetti chili" and it is typically served with oyster crackers.
If you're ever in the Cincinnati area you'll need to know how to order spaghetti chili:
- two-way: spaghetti and chili
- three-way: spaghetti, chili, and shredded cheese
- four-way: spaghetti, chili, shredded cheese, and either diced onions or beans
- five-way: spaghetti, chili, shredded cheese, diced onions, and beans
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