Cincinnati Chili

"Everyday."

That was the self-assured response given us by the hotel conceirge as we entered the doors to Skyline, downtown Cincinnati. At the counter you could order up (get this) a 3-way, 4-way, or 5-way, served on a hot dog , over a burrito, or over spaghetti or etc, with or without a mountain load of cheese, small, regular or large.

Oh.

Yes.

Spaghetti.

We had landed an hour and half or so earlier and were famished. We had devised our game plan in the cab ride from the airport. We were to check into the hotel, get our bags to our rooms, refresh, and then meet in the hotel lobby to move briskly to lunch. So, in our taxi we asked our cabby, "What is local to Cincinnati that we will love to eat?"

"Cincinnati chili", he answered.

"Ok, where do we get it?"

"Skyline, and there's one near your hotel."

The driver had shared so much valuable and interesting info about Cincy that we were excited the conference had chosen this awesome city; but, we were more glad we'd luck up on this driver with an incredible recommendation of Cincinnati chili. So, bags unloaded and tip transferred, the taxi buzzed off into rush-hour, city traffic. Now, our plans to reconvene for lunch were in effect.

While waiting in the lobby for some stragglers in our group, a couple of us approached the hotel conceirge to ask (for confirmation), "What is local to Cincinnati that we will love to eat?"

"Cincinnati chili!" he exclaimed.

"The cabby told us that. Skyline?", we asked.

"Yep!" he answered and then gave us spot-on directions.

Well, reassembling in the lobby was a slight struggle. But moments later with our group in tact, we began our trek to Skyline which was only a few city blocks away!

Spot-on directions indeed. We arrived at Skyline with great anticipation and surprise to find the hotel conceirge had already arrived in advance of us and was seated at a table placing his order.

"Is it good?" we asked him.

"Everyday." he retorted.

This is where the story goes south...literally.

Six proud southerners, fairly well-traveled, and well-educated were dumbfounded. What is that taste? Nutmeg? No. Cinnamon. Maybe. Why is it so dark? I don't know. What meat is that dark? Maybe it's the chili powder (we discover later that it's chocolate). I taste only a little chili powder. I don't taste any! Why spaghett? I dunno. I asked for "light" cheese. I can't eat this! Well, I can; I paid for it. I never have to eat it again. It's as though a pumpkin pie fell into a pot of chili. Chili-what?!

Needless to say, Cincinnati chili is an acquired taste. Here's the website: www.skylinechili.com/menu.pdf or the receipe 'cause that's the best I've got...