Man, do I love a three-way

Every kid in Cincinnati thought they had an original line with that witticism. Ah, lost innocence.

What we have here is one of my all time favorite comfort foods: a Three Way Cincinnati style chili. Yeah, it's served over spaghetti. Yes, if you watch football and the Bengals are playing a home game, there will be a staged shot of someone constructing this dish when they are coming back in from the commercials.

It's no secret that it is delicious and incredibly popular in the greater Cincinnati area. Empress Chili started it all in downtown Cincinnati. Since then, though, there are two big dogs in the Cincy chili business: Skyline and Gold Star. And people actually fight about which is better like Coke and Pepsi. Brand loyalty is common.

Me, I love it all and appreciate the differences. Usually, when I am craving the stuff, I stop in at the nearest location of either restaurant. They're as ubiquitous as Starbucks in Seattle, or maybe more so. Cincinnati boasts nearly 200 chili parlors in the area.

You step inside, sit down at a table, booth, or counter and have hot food in front of you in mere minutes. I love the experience. If you can self-actualize while eating inexpensive fast food, then this is where I peak.

In a future post, I'll publish a recipe and breakdown the menu options at most restaurants. That way, if you decide to make it, you can serve it the way Cincinnatians like it.

One thing though, never twirl the spaghetti. One eats Cincinnati style chili by slicing the spaghetti with the edge of the fork and then scooping up noodles, chili, cheese, and, optionally, onions and black beans in a single mouthful. This is bliss.