Dixie Chili and Deli
Encyclopedia
Dixie Chili and Deli, originally Dixie Chili, is a chain of three Cincinnati chili
restaurants located in the state of Kentucky
. Greek
immigrant Nicholas Sarakatsannis founded the first location in 1929 in Newport, Kentucky
, just across the Ohio River
from the city of Cincinnati. Today the company also has locations in Erlanger
and Covington
, additionally distributing a canned version of their chili product in supermarkets in the Cincinnati and Kentucky area.
in 1912 at the age of 15 in order to escape hostilities between the Greeks and the Turks
. He landed a series of jobs in restaurants and the food industry, eventually arriving in Cincinnati. In 1928, he began working for Empress Chili, the original Cincinnati-style chili parlor. His first day on the job he made nine gallons of chili.
He soon became convinced he could develop his own recipe and open his own chili parlor. Searching the region on buses between split shifts for a location that would not be in competition with Empress, Sarakatsannis found a location in Newport, Kentucky
on Monmouth Street, the city’s primary business district. The first Dixie Chili restaurant opened its doors in 1929, the year the Great Depression
began in the United States
.
The original chili recipe has not been altered and is a closely guarded family secret. Dixie's chili is milder than some of the other regional chili parlors, but has developed such a following that the restaurant has opened parlors in Covington, Kentucky
and Erlanger, Kentucky
.
The Sarakatsannis family continues to own and operate the business.
Cincinnati chili
Cincinnati chili is a regional style of Chili con carne characterized by the use of unusual seasonings such as cinnamon, cloves, allspice or chocolate. It is commonly served over spaghetti or as a hot dog sauce, and is normally of a thin, sauce-like consistency, unlike most chili con carne...
restaurants located in the state of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
immigrant Nicholas Sarakatsannis founded the first location in 1929 in Newport, Kentucky
Newport, Kentucky
Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which...
, just across the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
from the city of Cincinnati. Today the company also has locations in Erlanger
Erlanger, Kentucky
Erlanger is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,676 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Erlanger is located at ....
and Covington
Covington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
, additionally distributing a canned version of their chili product in supermarkets in the Cincinnati and Kentucky area.
History
Nicholas Sarakatsannis immigrated to the United States from GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1912 at the age of 15 in order to escape hostilities between the Greeks and the Turks
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He landed a series of jobs in restaurants and the food industry, eventually arriving in Cincinnati. In 1928, he began working for Empress Chili, the original Cincinnati-style chili parlor. His first day on the job he made nine gallons of chili.
He soon became convinced he could develop his own recipe and open his own chili parlor. Searching the region on buses between split shifts for a location that would not be in competition with Empress, Sarakatsannis found a location in Newport, Kentucky
Newport, Kentucky
Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which...
on Monmouth Street, the city’s primary business district. The first Dixie Chili restaurant opened its doors in 1929, the year the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
began in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The original chili recipe has not been altered and is a closely guarded family secret. Dixie's chili is milder than some of the other regional chili parlors, but has developed such a following that the restaurant has opened parlors in Covington, Kentucky
Covington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
and Erlanger, Kentucky
Erlanger, Kentucky
Erlanger is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,676 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Erlanger is located at ....
.
The Sarakatsannis family continues to own and operate the business.
Menu
The original menu heavily featured Cincinnati-style chili. Prominent on the restaurant’s early menu were the following dishes:- One-way, a bowl of chili
- Two-way, a plate of spaghetti topped with chili
- Three-way, a two-way with cheese, by far the most popular spaghetti combination.
- Four-way, a three-way with onions
- Five-way, a four-way with pinto beans
- Six-way, a five-way with garlic cloves
- ConeyConey Island hot dogConey Island hot dog refers to a natural casing beef hot dog, topped with an all-meat beanless chili, and diced or chopped white onions with one or two strips of yellow mustard. The variety is a fixture in Jackson, Flint, Detroit, and southeastern Michigan...
, a hot dog featuring the signature chili and often topped with onion and/or shredded cheese. - Alligator, like a coney but with a pickle spear alongside the hot dog and a mayonnaise instead of chili.
- Greek salad, Feta and homemade croutons with cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and a Greek style dressing
- Chocolate Cake, homemade chocolate cake with chocolate icing.