Spots on my shirt!

Did you know that there is a right and a wrong way to eat Cincinnati style chili? There is...

ALWAYS wear a bib! This is mandatory unless you like chili spots on your shirt, pants, tie, shoes or purse.

ALWAYS cut your chili spaghetti (no matter which toppings you choose) with a fork. You cut it like a piece of pie. My old boss at Skyline, Bonnie Cornwell, taught me that. She is right, don't chance it. There will be no twirling of the forks at a Cincy Chili parlor. If you do, everyone around you will feel the spray of chili from your fork. You don't want to be that person, do you?

ALWAYS place a napkin underneath your plate place mat style! There is always a trail from plate to mouth, so make your server happy and catch that chili before it hits the table and ends up on you or the floor!

ENJOY! Don't forget your peppermint patty on the way out! With or without onion, chili breath is killer!

While we are all learning here, let's take a moment to define our chili speak. If you are a visitor to Cincinnati, this is all you need to know to look like a regular at the local parlor...

2 Way - Chili and spaghetti

3 Way - Chili, spagetti and cheese

4 Way - Chili, spaghetti, cheese and onion OR bean

5 Way - Chili, spaghetti, cheese, onion AND bean

6 Way - Only available at 2 chili parlors in the city...Dixie Chili offers chopped garlic as the 6th and Blue Ash Chili offers fried jalapenos

Cheese Coney - Hot dog in a bun with mustard, onions, chili and cheese

Chili Fest - Where true Cincinnatians go to sample their favorites all in one spot

Coney Bowl - New to the chili world, cheese coneys without the bun...in a bowl

"Dry" - This is how you order your 3, 4 or 5 Way if you would like the excess juice drained from your plate

"Inverted" - This is how you order your 3, 4 or 5 Way if you would like the cheese beneath the chili rather than above. ( right on top of the spaghetti! ) Very gooey, get a bib!

"Juicy" - This how you order your 3, 4 or 5 Way if you would like extra juice from the chili to be added to your plate

Oyster Crackers - Small hexagonal crackers that enhance any Cincinnati style creation

Phony Coney - Cheese coney without the hot dog ( everything else applies )

Tobasco Sauce - Typical hot sauce for Cincinnati chili

Next time you are in town, take heed to the chili etiquette or you will be leaving with spots!! Don't forget to try something new, like a Coney bowl or an inverted 3 Way, you will love it!