NSTA Cincinnati: A Culinary Update
This weekend was the last round of the regional NSTAs (National Science Teachers Association Conference)and our last workshop was in Cincinnati. Of all 3 conferences, I was by far the least excited about Cincinnati, it being Ohio and the first week of December and all.
One of my coworkers, an Ohio native told me about Cincinnati chili. Apparently, it is a very regional dish that was described as a “runny chili served on top of spaghetti.” Yes, chili on spaghetti! It sounded so appalling that I decided that I had to try it while I was there.
I convinced my co-presenter to go to the local Skyline Chili after finishing our last Planet FOSS workshop (and Happy Hour at a local brewery.) The Skyline Chili restaurant (or as they call them in Cincy, a “chili parlor”) looked like a glorified McDonalds. However, a waitress came to our table and took our orders, so I guess it was a step up from McDonalds.
I ordered “5 way chili,” which meant that I would be getting a bowl of spaghetti, toped with the meat sauce chili, sprinkled with onions and kidney beans and toped with cheese. I also ordered a Coney dog out of curiosity.
Terrible picture of me, but I think this best conveys how much cheese was on the chhili!
The food was brought out quickly. The chili had a heaping mound of orange cheddar cheese covering the whole plate. I could see nothing but orange. I didn’t even know how to start eating this huge mountain of cheese, but after a few minutes the cheese melted into a gooey orange mess, revealing the spaghetti and chili. Surprisingly, I enjoyed my chili! The meat sauce was sweet and cinnamon-y, and tasted pretty good! It was kinda like a sweet spaghetti meat sauce without and tomatoes. I enjoyed my 5-way chili!
The Coney dog however, was another story. $1.50 will buy you a 3-inch hot dog covered with Cincinnati chili and cheese. The Coney Dog easily makes it in my top 10 list of the “Worst Things I’ve Ever Eaten.” The hot dog bun was steamed and it was this squishy, gummy bread. The hot dog was this tiny sausage that reminded me of a canned Vienna sausage. The chili and cheese made the bun very squishy and the hot dog grease added nothing to the chili. I made it through two bites of the Coney Dog and called it quits.
Other than the chili, I liked Cincinnati, much to my surprise. Th weather was cold, but it was kinda fun to bundle up and wear jackets that I never get to wear in the Bay Area. It snowed on the last day. I was so excited when I woke up to see the whole world covered in white that I ran outside the hotel to see what it felt like to walk on fresh snow. The city had a big city feel and a cool history.
True to the Midwest spirit, I didn't eat a single vegetable during my trip. I hope you are proud Lizzy!
One of my coworkers, an Ohio native told me about Cincinnati chili. Apparently, it is a very regional dish that was described as a “runny chili served on top of spaghetti.” Yes, chili on spaghetti! It sounded so appalling that I decided that I had to try it while I was there.
I convinced my co-presenter to go to the local Skyline Chili after finishing our last Planet FOSS workshop (and Happy Hour at a local brewery.) The Skyline Chili restaurant (or as they call them in Cincy, a “chili parlor”) looked like a glorified McDonalds. However, a waitress came to our table and took our orders, so I guess it was a step up from McDonalds.
I ordered “5 way chili,” which meant that I would be getting a bowl of spaghetti, toped with the meat sauce chili, sprinkled with onions and kidney beans and toped with cheese. I also ordered a Coney dog out of curiosity.
Terrible picture of me, but I think this best conveys how much cheese was on the chhili!
The food was brought out quickly. The chili had a heaping mound of orange cheddar cheese covering the whole plate. I could see nothing but orange. I didn’t even know how to start eating this huge mountain of cheese, but after a few minutes the cheese melted into a gooey orange mess, revealing the spaghetti and chili. Surprisingly, I enjoyed my chili! The meat sauce was sweet and cinnamon-y, and tasted pretty good! It was kinda like a sweet spaghetti meat sauce without and tomatoes. I enjoyed my 5-way chili!
The Coney dog however, was another story. $1.50 will buy you a 3-inch hot dog covered with Cincinnati chili and cheese. The Coney Dog easily makes it in my top 10 list of the “Worst Things I’ve Ever Eaten.” The hot dog bun was steamed and it was this squishy, gummy bread. The hot dog was this tiny sausage that reminded me of a canned Vienna sausage. The chili and cheese made the bun very squishy and the hot dog grease added nothing to the chili. I made it through two bites of the Coney Dog and called it quits.
Other than the chili, I liked Cincinnati, much to my surprise. Th weather was cold, but it was kinda fun to bundle up and wear jackets that I never get to wear in the Bay Area. It snowed on the last day. I was so excited when I woke up to see the whole world covered in white that I ran outside the hotel to see what it felt like to walk on fresh snow. The city had a big city feel and a cool history.
True to the Midwest spirit, I didn't eat a single vegetable during my trip. I hope you are proud Lizzy!