On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:17:15 -0400, Mr. Bill > wrote:

>I have had this recipe for many many years...but never made it.
>Frankly, I questioned some of the ingredients....cocoa and allspice.
>@@@@@ Now You're Cooking! Export Format
>
>Cincinnati Chili

So called Cincinatti Chili or Skyline Chili ( I say "so-called"
because I'm in Texas!) is an odd duck, indeed, but your recipe looks
about right. The kicker is the allspice and/or cinnamon. As I
understand it, the dish was developed by a fellow who was originally
from Greece or thereabouts, and the allspice would be natural in such
a preparation in the eastern Med. Served over pasta.

Cocoa, on the other hand is legitimate for "new world" chili, as the
Aztecs used to mix it with peppers (the chilis), with or without meat.
I use unsweetened cocoa in my chili, which is made with corn beer and
thickened with a little corn meal. (The Aztecs also put corn in with
their peppers, and beans.) No allspice, no cinnamon. No pork, the
addition of which tends to make (otherwise) all-beef chili too bland.

HTH

ALex