Not all Cincinnatians love the Bengals or Reds. And maybe some don’t like our incredible local beers. However, nearly all Queen City residents enjoy Cincinnati chili.
Do we have the numbers to prove it? no But not liking a three-way or cheese coney is sacrilege in these parts.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Cincinnati chili — yes, the iconic dish has been around for around 10 decades — we asked some of the most notable people from our great city to give us their favorite chili orders.
Personally, I don’t think you can go wrong with a Chili Deluxe Burrito (all chili, no mixed beans) and about 10 coneys with all the Skyline Chili trimmings. However, I doubt that you are interested in my order.
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From movie stars to politicians and athletes, here are the top local celebrity orders.
Go-to chili orders for Cincinnati celebrities
arts and entertainment
Emilio Estevez: Perhaps one of Cincinnati’s most famous residents, the actor and filmmaker known for The Breakfast Club and The Outsiders (although I was a huge Mighty Ducks guy), orders half diet/half regular Dr. Pepper, two cheese coneys with no onions, and an order of chips to share. He also likes oyster crackers that are split in half and filled with hot sauce. While visiting Skyline whenever he wants a Cincinnati chili, he says, “You can’t go wrong with the historic vibe of Camp Washington.”
Sarah Jessica Parker: “Sex and the City” or “Sex and the Cincy”? The famous actress credits the Queen City with starting her acting career and seems to have fond memories of the Clifton Skyline. Parker even visited Skyline during her recent trip to Cincinnati. Your go-to order? “Always a great threesome.”
Gee Horton: The visual artist’s Gold Star order of choice is a vegetarian chili and cheese sandwich with mustard, onions and habanero cheese.
Jeff Christian Jr.: Christian has been trying to find love on “Love Island USA,” but the Colerain High School graduate seems to know he might get hatred for liking “Gold Star” over “Skyline.” He enjoys a cheese coney with onions and mustard and a threesome.
JR Cassidy: Of course, we needed to show some love to our neighbors in Kentucky. The founder of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra likes to visit every chili parlor. He’s up late, so whoever’s open gets their business. Cassidy orders two coneys with no cheese and light onions. He also gets the cheese for his dog or for his son when he is in town.
entrepreneur
Jeff Ruby: The popular restaurant owner might have had the best quote of any celebrity we asked. This is also after he recently received a care package from Skyline. “I call it a wet SOC: spaghetti, onions and chilli wet with extra drops of chili to make it juicy. When I first ordered it about 20 years ago, they took me literally (because they had never heard of it like that). A wet sock was delivered with the order. It was all fun. I knew the boy who prepared my order. I think they are preparing it my way now but don’t call it a wet SOC. I think they call it succulent.”
Late morning: The former Cincinnati State and Indiana University basketball player is also known for her clothing store, Originalitees. She’s a big fan of the Skyline threesome.
Local Officials
Afterb Pureval: The mayor of Cincinnati enjoys a regular foursome with onions and two coneys and all the trimmings.
Colleen Hanycz: Xavier University president says her order is a Skyline “Cheese Coney all day.”
Jill Meyer: The President and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber enjoys two Gold Star mustard and onion chili cheese sandwiches.
dr O’dell Owens: Former Hamilton County coroner and influential voice in Cincinnati’s public health community, Owens takes different paths on a visit to Skyline. When he’s happy, he takes everything with him. However, when he wants to be healthier, Owens orders a coney without bread.
Sports
Anthony Brooks: He is possibly the best known Bengals fan in Queen City. Tony Da Tiger enjoys a threesome and a cheese coney (no onion) from Gold Star. He also likes extra crispy chili cheese fries.
Adam Kunkel: The Xavier basketball guard and alum from Cooper High School in northern Kentucky said he’s ordering a threesome at Skyline.
Byron Larkin: One of the greatest players in Xavier Musketeers history, Larkin enjoys a regular three-pointer and two cheese coneys.
Annie Sabo: The Bally Sports Reds Live host and daughter of former Reds All-Star Chris Sabo says she’s a “Skyline fanatic,” adding that she “can down two to three cheese coneys (no mustard) with ease can”. Oh, and don’t forget the crackers.
Kelsey Mitchell: She’s a Princeton grad and a WNBA star for the Indiana Fever, but when she’s not firing shots, Mitchell likes to eat Gold Star. go to order? A fiver with beans and onions.
Maria Weinberg: Wineberg won an Olympic gold medal in 2008 when she was part of the US 4×400 relay team. However, when she’s not chasing after the person lined up next to her, the UC grad enjoys a Skyline threesome with habanero cheese.
Williams Soup: The Ohio State University star, who is running back from Winton Woods, likes no-cheese, onion-and-mustard coneys from Gold Star.
Mo Egger: Her favorite local sports radio host enjoys “four cheesecakes with mustard and onion and a half-sweet/half-unsweetened iced tea” from Skyline.
Paris Johnson Jr.: Ohio State’s offensive lineman from Princeton High School likes to order coneys with cheese, onions and hot sauce from Camp Washington.
Wes Miller: He’s somewhat new to the Queen City, but the Cincinnati Bearcats basketball coach doesn’t seem to mess around when it comes to chili. He enjoys two coneys with everything, a threesome, crackers and hot sauce, and a side of chili ranch sauce.
Cincinnati 100th Anniversary Chili is coming this week:
- Introduction: The Cincinnati-Coney Trail. This card is a to-do list that you’ll love checking off one by one.
- A Blind Chili Taste Test Video in which Enquirer contributors try to name five different iconic chili brands, no-frills. Just. Unadorned. Chili. could you do it
- Magic in Mount Sane. Has Keith Pandolfi found the most overlooked chili parlor in the greater Cincinnati area?
- Do it yourself! A hot take on Keith Pandolfi on why more people should try making Cincinnati-style chili at home.
- A Vegan chilli recipe that won’t make you miss the meat so we ALL can join in the fun.
- Six things you might not have known about Empress Chili the origins of the Cincinnati style by our historian Jeff Suess.
- A Love Note Cartoon by Enquirer cartoonist Kevin Necessary.
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