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History of Chasen’s Chili:
Chasen’s Restaurant in Hollywood, California probably made the most famous chili. The owner of the restaurant, Dave Chasen (1899-1973), ex-vaudeville performer, kept the Chasens Famous Chili recipe a secret, entrusting it to no one.
1936 to 2000 – For years, he came to the restaurant every Sunday to privately cook up a batch, which he would freeze for the week, believing that the chili was best when reheated. “It is a kind of bastard chili” was all that Dave Chasen would divulge.
Chauffeurs and studio people, actors and actresses would come to the back door of Chasen’s to buy and pick up the chili by the quart. Other famous people craved this chili such as comedian and actor Jack Benny (1894-1974) who ordered it by the quart. J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972), former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who considered it the best chili in the world, and Eleanor Roosevelt (1894-1962) wife of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, sought the recipe but was refused (a complimentary order was dispatched to her instead). It is said that Chasen’s also send chili to movie actor Clark Gable (1901-1960), when he was in the hospital (he reportedly had it for dinner the night he died).
During the filming of the movie Cleopatra in Rome, Italy, famous movie star, Elizabeth Taylor, had Chasen’s Restaurant in Hollywood, California send 10 quarts of their famous chili to her. She supposedly paid $200 to have it shipped to her in Rome:
Writing to Dave Chasen about his Chasens Famous Chili Recipe by Elizabeth Taylor, on location in Rome, 1962:
“The chili is so good. All gone now. Please send me ten quarts of your wonderful chili in dry ice to 448 Via Appia pignatelli. – Love and kisses, Elizabeth Taylor.”
The original Chasen’s restaurant closed in April of 1995, and the new Chasen’s on Cañon Drive closed permanently in April of 2000.
Learn about the history and legends of Chili, Chili Con Carne.
Chasen's Famous Chili Recipe:
Chasens Famous Chili recipe from the cookbook Chasen’s – Where Hollywood Dined, by Betty Goodwin, published by Angel City Press, 1996.
Course:Side Dish
Cuisine:American
Keyword:Chasens Famous Chili History and Recipe
Author: What's Cooking America
Ingredients
- 1/2pounddry pinto beans
- Water
- 1(28-ounce) candiced tomatoesin juice
- 1largegreen bell pepper,chopped
- 2tablespoonsvegetable oil
- 3cupsonions,coarsely chopped
- 2clovesgarlic,crushed
- 1/2cupparsley,chopped
- 1/2cupbutter
- 2poundsbeef chuck,coarsely chopped*
- 1poundpork shoulder,coarsely chopped*
- 1/3cupGebhardt's chili powder
- 1tablespoonsalt
- 1 1/2teaspoonspepper
- 1 1/2teaspoonsFarmer Brother's ground cumin**
Instructions
Rinse the beans, picking out debris. Place beans in a Dutch oven with water to cover. Boil for two minutes. Remove from heat. Cover with lid and let stand one hour. After one hour, drain off liquid and discard.
Rinse beans again. Add just enough fresh water to cover the beans. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered, for one hour or until tender. Stir in tomatoes and their juice and let simmer five minutes.
In a large skillet, saute bell pepper in oil for five minutes. Add onion and cook until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in the garlic and parsley. Add mixture to bean mixture. Using the same skillet, melt the butter and saute beef and pork chuck until browned. Drain. Add to bean mixture along with the chili powder, salt, pepper and cumin.
Bring mixture just to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for one hour. Uncover and cook 30 minutes more or to desired consistency. Chili should not be too thick - it should be somewhat liquid but not runny like soup. Skim of excess fat and serve.
NOTE: You can freeze this chili for several months. When reheating refrigerated leftover or frozen chili, add a few tablespoons of water to regain proper consistency.
Serves many.
Recipe Notes
* Chasen's used the best beef chuck, center cut, trimmed completely of fat. The restaurant used a special meat grinder, but for the home cook, meat chopped into one-quarter to one-half-inch chunks is much better than ground meat for this chili.
** Sometimes cumin seed is used in place of the ground cumin. It is a matter of personal preference.
Famous and Not-So Famous Chili Recipes:
Arnold’s “Old Leatherthroat” Chili Con Carne
Bowl Of Red – Classic Chili
Chasen’s Famous Chili
Chili H. Allen Smith
Linda’s Chili Con Carne
Pedernales River Chili
Spicy Chili with Peppers
Tolbert’s Original Bowl of Red
Related Recipes
Categories:
Beef Chili Recipes Chili Recipes Dinner Dried and Canned Bean Recipes Far West Pork Shoulder Roast Pot Roast Southwest Food History Winter
Comments and Reviews
FAQs
What primarily distinguishes Texas chili from other chili recipes you might find is a lack of beans, but it also doesn't feature any tomatoes. It is, largely, a ground beef dish that's seasoned with a spicy chili paste made of dried peppers.
Which US state is most associated with chilli con carne? ›
Chili con carne is the official dish of the U.S. state of Texas as designated by the House Concurrent Resolution Number 18 of the 65th Texas Legislature during its regular session in 1977.
How does Martha Stewart make chili? ›
Add chili powder, cocoa, and tomato paste; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes, broth, and cooked beef. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, until thickened slightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve with sour cream and chives.
How did chili become so popular in the United States? ›
Mexican, Thai, Chinese and Cajun food were the typical American routes to discovering chili, said McElroy, the Tone's Spices official. As those cuisines spread inland from both coasts and northward, the taste became national.
What is the difference between Texas chili and Colorado chili? ›
So how do they differ? Well, besides the different chile peppers used, Texas chili is traditionally made without tomatoes, though you will find them in chile colorado. Likewise, fillers are verboten in Texas chili yet potatoes are welcome in chile colorado.
What's the difference between Tex-Mex chili and regular chili? ›
The only thing that all chili recipes have in common is the presence of a chili sauce, and there are infinite variations to choose from even there. Some basic divisions include: (1) Beans or no beans? Tex-Mex chili does not include beans; most other regional chilis do include beans.
Do Texans put beans in chili? ›
But in Texas, beans have no place in a pot of chili. The classic Lone Star State chili, popularly known as “Texas Red,” includes a small and carefully curated selection of ingredients, and its bean-free simplicity is a point of pride for generations of Texans.
What state eats chili on spaghetti? ›
Pasta partisans beware: in and around Ohio's Queen City, it is customary to cut, not twirl, your chili-smothered spaghetti. How the popular Italian noodle got mixed up with an otherworldly stew like Cincinnati chili is a purely American tale of immigration and assimilation.
What is the chili capital of the United States? ›
However, New Mexico thinks otherwise. It's newest license plate proclaims this as truth and features big red and green chili peppers next to the identity number of the plate and the slogan: New Mexico, Chili Capital of the World. It's true, New Mexico was once a part of Mexico and before that New Spain.
What is the secret to making good chili? ›
Rumi Spice's top tips for making chili:
- Brown the Meat.
- Don't Forget Vegetables.
- Elevate with Extra Flavor.
- Only Add Flavorful Liquids.
- Opt for Dried Beans.
- Season Early and Often.
- Add Some Acidity at the End.
- Top It Off.
It's no surprise that Ina's chili recipe is a cinch to make. You start by cooking a ton of onions in a pot until translucent, then adding garlic, bell peppers, and several spices — including chili powder, cumin, cayenne, and red pepper flakes. Next, Ina has you crush canned plum tomatoes with your hands.
Why do people put baking soda in chili? ›
According to the magazine's food experimenters, the baking soda treatment will definitely keep the meat tender and juicy when cooked.
Who first put beans in chili? ›
It was cowboys who brought beef to the dish, but those same cowboys also kept beans in it. According to the Chili Appreciation Society International, chili's spread throughout Texas and other parts of the country began with cattle drives in the mid 19th century.
What state is known for its chili? ›
“Despite being the official dish of Texas, chili has grown to become America's dish,” said Doug Koegeboehn, chief marketing officer for Wienerschnitzel.
What are some interesting facts about Texas chili? ›
The Texas prison system made such good chili that freed inmates often wrote for the recipe, saying what they missed most after leaving prison was a good bowl of chili. Texas chili spread nationally when Texans from San Antonio set up a chili stand at the Chicago Exposition in 1893.
What's the difference between Texas chili and Cincinnati chili? ›
Texas chili is full of chili powder, often home-made and and may have cumin, but doesn't have a lot of nuance. Texas chili may be served with saltines and probably with cheese and onions, but isn't served on rice or spaghetti. Cincinnati chili is milder and sweeter and may have some seasonings like allspice.
What is the difference between Texas chili and New Mexico chili? ›
Texas chili is a chili con care made with beef and an assortment of herbs and spices. Some Texas chili recipes use chili powder as the seasoning, while others use chiles with herbs and spices. New Mexico has a chile con carne made with dried, red New Mexico chiles or chile powder, herbs and spices.
Does real chili from Texas have beans in it? ›
Texas chili is unique from other chilis in that it does not contain beans or tomato sauce, or any tomato product. It is made primarily of meat and a thick and flavor chili paste made from dried peppers. It is more akin to a thick and hearty beef stew that most chilis with a focus on chili pepper flavor.
