10 ways to celebrate National Chili Day in true Cincinnati fashion
The most important day for Queen City food lovers returns Thursday: National Chili Day.
The quasi-holiday honors the many variations of the popular comfort dish, including Cincinnati's signature style.
Our version has sparked many passionate debates amongst locals and visitors alike. Even public figures, such as former President Barack Obama, have been spotted trying the controversial, yet beloved, local cuisine.
We won't judge you if you commemorate National Chili Day with a good old-fashioned bowl of Texas chili. But why not celebrate the momentous day the Cincinnati way instead?
Here are 10 ways to celebrate National Chili Day 2024 Cincinnati-style.
1. Take a blind chili taste test.
2. Eat your way through the Cincinnati Coney Trail! 🌭
3. Visit what might be Cincy's most overlooked chili parlor.
Read more: Is this the most overlooked chili parlor in Greater Cincinnati? 🧐
4. Learn about the history of Cincinnati chili.
Since its creation in 1922, Cincinnati chili has become an icon of the Midwest.
Anthony Bourdain called it "the story of America on your plate" and Smithsonian magazine named Cincinnati chili one of the “20 Most Iconic Foods in America.” In 2020, Skyline Chili was featured in an episode of "The Simpsons."
Though it may have more locations than any other local chili chain, Cincinnati chili did not begin with Skyline. It actually began in 1922 when Bulgarian brothers Tom and John Kiradjieff immigrated to Cincinnati and started selling a novel dish: Chili on spaghetti.
Over the years, countless others have joined the Cincinnati chili party. Here's a timeline of when some of the big players opened for business. You might be surprised to see which parlors came before others.
Cincinnati chili parlors: A timeline of which opened when
5. Take this personality test and find out which Cincinnati chili you are!
The link: Take our personality test to figure out which Cincinnati chili you are
6. Check out these local celebrities' go-to chili orders.
Emilio Estevez: Two cheese coneys with no onions and an order of fries to share. And a half diet/half regular Dr. Pepper.
Sarah Jessica Parker: A large three-way, likely from the Clifton Skyline.
Jeff Ruby: Something called "the wet SOC."
Aftab Pureval: A regular four-way with onions and two coneys with everything on them.
Josh Hutcherson: Four chili cheese sandwiches and a four-way with onions.
More: Emilio Estevez and Sarah Jessica Parker told us what they order at Skyline
7. Celebrate the first-ever Cincinnati Chili week!
The inaugural Cincinnati Chili Week, the week-long event honoring the longstanding three-way and cheese coney heritage hosted by Cincinnati CityBeat, is running Feb. 19-25. From Gold Star to Camp Washington, restaurants around town have specials and lower prices as part of the festivities, including $5-$7 deals on specific menu items.
Check out the participating restaurants here.
8. We dare you to make Cincinnati chili at home.
Teach your friends that Cincinnati chili is nothing to be afraid of. On the surface, Cincinnati chili is ground beef, onions, garlic, dried herbs, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, a dab of Worcestershire sauce, cinnamon and ... chocolate?
But it's so much more than that. Just as you can get a good gumbo from at least 100 southern Louisiana restaurants or a quality clam chowder in any random New England fish house, they are almost always better when they're homemade.
Cincinnati Chili Recipes
Original recipe: This Cincinnati chili recipe is all the reason you need to start making it at home
Vegan recipe: You won't miss the meat in this Cincinnati-style chili recipe 🚫🐮
9. Memorize these 6 quick facts about its origins.
The roots go back to Macedonia.
It all started with Empress Chili.
Empress Chili was named for a burlesque theater.
It's based on a Greek stew.
The cheese was added later.
There's only one Empress left.
More: 6 things everyone should know about the origin of Cincinnati chili
10. Make a TikTok about Cincinnati chili ... because it's 2024.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How to celebrate National Chili Day like you're from Cincinnati
