Gold Star Chili
Encyclopedia
Gold Star Chili is a restaurant chain based in Cincinnati, Ohio
, that sells Cincinnati chili
. The original restaurant was established in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Mt. Washington
in 1965 by four brothers from Jordan
. Gold Star Chili is the "Official Chili" of the Cincinnati Bengals
.
ian brothers in Mount Washington
, originally under the name Hamburger Heaven. As the original name suggests, the original vision for their restaurant was primarily hamburger
s. However, they also had a chili recipe that they began modifying, soon finding that customers were ordering the chili more than any of the other menu items. As a result, the brothers changed the restaurant name to Gold Star Chili and removed many of the other items from their menu.
In 1993 Tony Pérez
, then manager of the Cincinnati Reds
and former member of the Big Red Machine, kicked off a promotion campaign for the restaurant. During his baseball years Pérez's nickname
was "Big Dog", and since the chain was ready to promote their new foot long cheese coney, Gold Star saw a promotional opportunity, naming it "Big Doggie". For the promotion, the store offered customers 16 inches (406.4 mm) miniature Louisville Slugger baseball bats for US$1.99, and Pérez did various in-store signing sessions for fans. In the past, Gold Star Chili has also hired other Reds players for promotional campaigns, most notably Pete Rose
.
, starting with large vats of suet
which are melted down. Added to this are dried white onions, which cook for approximately thirty minutes. The next ingredients are ground beef
and their "secret" concoction of spices, which cook for another hour or more. Finally, tomato sauce
and water are added, which are boiled for three hours into a concentrate. After a cooling period, the product is then packed and shipped to one of their restaurants.
According to an interview with Basheer Daoud (a son of one of the founders) by Neal Conan
of National Public Radio on August 22, 2005, the chain owns 105 restaurants. The chain's commissary produces nearly 20000 pounds (9,071.8 kg) of food product for the restaurants per day.
Gold Star Chili restaurants, both company-owned and franchised, are located in Ohio
, Kentucky
, and Indiana
—a total of 95 as of January 2009. Additionally, a relative of the Daoud family founded Chili House restaurants that serve a similar product in Egypt
, Jordan
, Palestine
, Russia
, and Syria
.
Gold Star Chili for the past several years has been a major sponsor of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, that sells Cincinnati chili
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...
. The original restaurant was established in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Mt. Washington
Mount Washington (Cincinnati)
Mount Washington is a neighborhood on the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is located about ten minutes east of Downtown via Columbia Parkway and Beechmont Avenue; or a slightly longer drive via Riverside Drive and Kellogg Avenue, to Salem Avenue and up Sutton Avenue or Beacon Street...
in 1965 by four brothers from Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. Gold Star Chili is the "Official Chili" of the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
.
History
Gold Star Chili was founded in 1965 by four JordanJordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian brothers in Mount Washington
Mount Washington (Cincinnati)
Mount Washington is a neighborhood on the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is located about ten minutes east of Downtown via Columbia Parkway and Beechmont Avenue; or a slightly longer drive via Riverside Drive and Kellogg Avenue, to Salem Avenue and up Sutton Avenue or Beacon Street...
, originally under the name Hamburger Heaven. As the original name suggests, the original vision for their restaurant was primarily hamburger
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
s. However, they also had a chili recipe that they began modifying, soon finding that customers were ordering the chili more than any of the other menu items. As a result, the brothers changed the restaurant name to Gold Star Chili and removed many of the other items from their menu.
In 1993 Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
, then manager of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and former member of the Big Red Machine, kicked off a promotion campaign for the restaurant. During his baseball years Pérez's nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
was "Big Dog", and since the chain was ready to promote their new foot long cheese coney, Gold Star saw a promotional opportunity, naming it "Big Doggie". For the promotion, the store offered customers 16 inches (406.4 mm) miniature Louisville Slugger baseball bats for US$1.99, and Pérez did various in-store signing sessions for fans. In the past, Gold Star Chili has also hired other Reds players for promotional campaigns, most notably Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
.
Today
The famous chili is produced at the chain's commissaryCommissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
, starting with large vats of suet
Suet
Suet is raw beef or mutton fat, especially the hard fat found around the loins and kidneys.Suet has a melting point of between 45° and 50°C and congelation between 37° and 40°C....
which are melted down. Added to this are dried white onions, which cook for approximately thirty minutes. The next ingredients are ground beef
Ground beef
Beef mince, ground beef, hamburger meat , hamburg or minced meat is a minced meat food, made of beef finely chopped by a mincer. It is used in many recipes including hamburgers and cottage pie...
and their "secret" concoction of spices, which cook for another hour or more. Finally, tomato sauce
Tomato sauce
A tomato sauce is any of a very large number of sauces made primarily from tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish...
and water are added, which are boiled for three hours into a concentrate. After a cooling period, the product is then packed and shipped to one of their restaurants.
According to an interview with Basheer Daoud (a son of one of the founders) by Neal Conan
Neal Conan
Neal Conan is an American radio journalist, producer, editor, and correspondent. He is senior host of the National Public Radio talk show Talk of the Nation....
of National Public Radio on August 22, 2005, the chain owns 105 restaurants. The chain's commissary produces nearly 20000 pounds (9,071.8 kg) of food product for the restaurants per day.
Gold Star Chili restaurants, both company-owned and franchised, are located in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, 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...
, and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
—a total of 95 as of January 2009. Additionally, a relative of the Daoud family founded Chili House restaurants that serve a similar product in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Palestine
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Gold Star Chili for the past several years has been a major sponsor of the Cincinnati Bengals.
External links
- Gold Star Chili
- Gold Star opens in Qatar, Cincinnati Business Courier