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Cincinnati chili (or "Cincinnati-style chili") is a regional style of chili characteristically served over spaghetti or as a coney sauce. It was invented by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides, who in 1949 opened Skyline Chili in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gold Star Chili, opened by the Daoud brothers in 1965, remains Skyline's main competitor. Cincinnati chili is served in restaurants around the tri-state area, with locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
Cincinnati chili sauce contains finely ground beef, seasoned with a secret mixture of spices. Despite the secrecy of the recipes, the sauces of rivals Skyline and Gold Star taste very similar. Some afficianados report a distinct hint of nutmeg, though the precise identity of other spices is hard to determine. The flavor of Cincinnati chili is distinct from that of the more widely recognized Texas-style chili, and differs from that variety too in its thinness, which makes it more suitable as a sauce for other dishes than as a dish by itself. This distinctiveness makes the chili a greatly missed delicacy among many former Cincinnati area residents.
When served over spaghetti, the chili is typically topped by a large mountain of finely shredded mild cheddar cheese (as much as will fit on top without it falling over the sides). Because of the large amount of cheese piled on top, the first few bites often consist entirely of cheese. The chili can be ordered as a "3-way" (noodles, sauce and cheese only), "4-way" (with added red kidney beans or chopped raw white onions), or "5-way" (with beans and onions).
When served on a coney-style hot dog, the chili is also topped with a generous mound of cheese. Patrons may also order the coney with added mustard, onions, or both. The hot dogs and buns served by Skyline and Gold Star are about half the size of their counterparts at most other restaurants, a feature that eases the consumption of what might otherwise be an unwieldly finger food. As it is, cheese loss is still a lamentable fact for even the most skilled of coney connoisseurs.
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