*puts down a glass of whiskey* so it's come time for what chili is discourse. The discourse i've been ready for my whole life. https://twitter.com/alaskastardust/status/1327748217593794562

TLDR Chili is an incredibly pervasive cultural staple that takes different forms and uses incredibly different ingredients in different regions.

New England- Chili with beans and ground beef, tomato based. Hearty for winters. Often with a bay leaf.

Midwest (upper)- Beans, Steak and potatoes. Parsley instead of bay leaves often

Cincinnati: Heinous. Nonsense. Spaghetti, beans and shredded cheese. Ground beef. Nauseating.

Texas: Steak. Often no bean. Chili pepper based, no tomatoes. Spicy.

New Mexico: Chili Verde, Tomatillos and green peppers. Usually chicken instead of beef.

Illinois: Springfield style, ground turkey beans and tomatoes cooked in beer. Gross.

Kansas City: Burnt ends or brisket, Worcestershire and beans. No tomatoes.

Southwest: Chicken, Black Beans, Tomatoes. Frequently corn, often roasted.

Cajun Chili (Louisiana): Tomato Paste, wine, hot peppers, sometimes with jelly or molasses. Meat varies (sausage, chicken, beef, or even seafood)

i REFUSE to even give Detroit style the credit of describing it.

I guess Carne Adovada applies too, New Mexico, pork shoulder, spicy pepper paste, cooked to a more vicious consistency, more like a chili sauce than a traditional chili

Rocky Mountain Chili: can mean different things, but often has Game instead of traditional meats (usually elk or venison). Often uses a wild variety of veggies, not limited to tomatoes, beans, and potatoes, but often featuring them

Modern West coast chili: Tomatoes, wine, and kidney beans. Usually turkey instead of beef. Often as chunks, but sometimes ground.

Oklahoma: Spicy red liquidy sauce. Chunks of meat. Often onions on top. Usually with beans