THE GREASY FOODIE: Blue Ash Chilli

The Greasy Foodie

The story begins blustry day Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008 in a cramped booth at a fake NYC deli in Nashville called Noshville. In between my wife, Rachel, and my brother, Michael, I sat across from my "cooler than me" cousins Mark and Sarah, and Sarah's just as cool husband, Danny. Mark, who lives the awesome life being a lawyer living in San Francisco working for Facebook, with his only downfall being his SEVERE lactardation..which has never been medically or scientifically proven to exist in Mark.. Sarah and Danny are foodies from NYC who have tried every dive "chicken finger" hut and "curry on a stick" in the big city. Danny and Sarah had discussed that they were trying to go to as many places from Bobby Flay's 'Throwdown' show as they could, and that there was one in Nashville we had to try.....a place that I had never heard of in my 13 years of living there..I will get to that adventure later.

I got an idea from my cool cousins idea. An idea became a hobby. And the hobby became an obsession. And thus produced the list.....a world-famous spreadsheet...of every restaurant that has ever been featured on Food Network and Travel Channel....every restaurant from the famous shows like "Throwdown", "Man V. Food", "Man v. Food Nation", "Food Feuds", "Food Wars", "Best Thing I Ever Ate", "Food Paradise" and "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" to the obscure "Best Food Ever", "Meat and Potatoes", and "101 Best Places to Chowdown", plus my additions of the restaurants of famous chefs, favorite catergories (burgers, wings, pizza, bbq, and sandwiches) and local places of legend. Names, cities, food they are famous for, and addresses. It was and still is an obsession. As of 11:31am on November 27, 2018, THE LIST HAS 4,660 RESTAURANTS ON IT...WITH A FEW OVERLAPS HERE AND THERE. And then over Pastrami Eggs Benedict at Nate N' Al's Deli in Beverly Hills, Hannah and Andrew, our good friends, gave me the idea of the blog. Document every place I went. And thus, "The Greasy Foodie" was born. I will log the places, the shows they are from, and what I had. So far, every place I have been has been amazing, except two, one being mediocre, and another being down right awful.

If there is a city you have been to, or are going to, or are from and want to know what from my list is in the city, send me a email at agmarks@gmail.com

Friday, April 11, 2014

Blue Ash Chilli

From Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

9565 KENWOOD RD, CINCINNATI 45242

http://blueashchili.com/

Cincinnati is a mixture of a city. Ohio and Kentucky. Midwest and South. Not many people give it the credit it deserves. It is a nice city, nice people, okay weather, CHEAP rent…but they have a food that they lay claim to that I think they do extremely well…chili. Cincinnati chili is unique in and of itself. 1. Its not spicy, but sweet as it was created by Greek immigrants who used chocolate and cinnamon, yet most places have some incredible home made hot sauce that can be added 2. It is not served like your typical chili is served 3. Unless it is requested vegetarian style, it comes with no beans, just how I like it. Back to #2. Cincinnati chili is normally served on top of spaghetti with cheddar cheese. You add in onions and beans if you want. Chili straight up is called 1-way. Onions is a 2-way. Beans is a 3-way. You add the cheddar and the oyster crackers, and voila perfection. Many places do it great including Skyline, Goldstar, can Camp Washington. However, Blue Ash Chili, a small diner in the north suburb of Cincy does it with an extra way, the four way, with jalapeno poppers. However while chili straight up is fun an great, this place takes it to a heart-stopping new level…on a Philly cheese steak. The Chili Philly. I was skeptical. Philly cheese steak in Cincy with 4-way chili on it. I had to try it..and it was outrageous…and outstanding. I don't want to imagine my cholesterol after and it was a mess, but it was phenomenal. I highly recommend this place and this sandwich…just bring some tums!

THE GREASY FOODIE