Since I started my blog, I try to get to new places and go to different restaurants. However, sometimes I just want to get something familiar and dear to me. That’s exactly how I ended up at Skyline Chili on Friday, October 14, 2016.
I was at a training being held at the Holiday Inn in Mayfield Village. It was a two part training, but lunch was “on our own.” I was not familiar with the area, so I turned on my trusty cell to see what Google maps could tell me. There were places closer to go for lunch, but when I saw Skyline, I knew that was the place for me.
When I walked in, I was told I could sit anywhere. Because I was alone, I decided to sit at the counter. If you’ve ever been in a Skyline, you know that the food prep area is right out there in the open. One of the nice things about Skyline, is that you don’t have to wait long for your food. In fact, they were giving me my food before my waiter even came over. The cooks asked what I wanted (a three-way and a coney dog) and then before I knew it, it was set before me. Even before I got my drink and oyster crackers!
I asked to have bib, because I have often ended up wearing a little bit of Skyline when I eat it. As I was enjoying my lunch, I watched the other patrons. Another guy at the counter was eating his chili by twirling the spaghetti. Who does that?! I couldn’t help but think “amateur.” That’s not how you eat Skyline.
Let me step back a little, for those of you who don’t know anything about Skyline Chili. It was invented in Cincinnati, Ohio. My first exposure to Skyline was at the Kings Island Amusement Park in 1989 or 1990. I wasn’t a big chili fan, because at that point in time I only thought of chili with kidney beans and I hate kidney beans. I saw people walking around with this spaghetti that had a huge mound of cheddar cheese on top. I was intrigued, but never got any that day. The reason was I didn’t understand the options Skyline gives you. I just assumed it came with beans.
It wasn’t until I moved to Cincinnati in 1991 to go to college, that I even tried it. Honestly, the first time I thought it was just O.K. I was pleased to find out that you could get it without beans (their “Three-way”). I found you could get a Three-Way (spaghetti, chili and cheese), Four-Way (spaghetti, chili, onions or beans and cheese) or a Five-Way (spaghetti, chili, beans, onions and cheese). Then I was invited to join a couple of guys for Skyline after church one Sunday. I sure wasn’t going to say no to that! So I tried it again and this time I was hooked. I probably should mention that it was in the original Skyline Chili restaurant in Pricehill (a section of Cincinnati) where I got to eat it most often.
Skyline became my Cincinnati chili. There are other brands out there, but none that compare to Skyline, in my opinion. When we moved to Northeast Ohio, I wasn’t sure whether we could find it up here. Fortunately it is available in the freezer sections of many of the local grocery stores. Bobby and I often had Skyline for dinner in our home. Still there is nothing like having it in a restaurant. So having a little stroll down memory lane with Skyline for lunch was nice. Oh, and nothing beats their Three-Way!
