Hot Dish: The 5-Way from Skyline Chili
• Price: $5.60 for a small, $6.90 regular, $8.85 large
• Description: This classic Cincinnati dish starts with a foundation of spaghetti noodles coated in Skyline's secret blend of seasonings. A heaping spoonful of kidney beans goes on next, followed by Skyline's "original, secret-recipe chili," some chopped onions and a heaping mound of finely shredded aged cheddar. Not feeling onions or beans? That's called a 3-Way. Want just onions, or just beans on that? Yep, that's a 4-Way.
• On the menu since: Skyline Chili was founded in Ohio in 1949. Southwest Florida's first Skyline opened in Fort Myers on May 24, 1990 — 25 years ago last month.
• Time it takes to make: 1 hour, 45 minutes from simmering the chili to assembling the final product
• Why so many secrets? "Everything is proprietary," said E.B. Yarnell, who owns the Fort Myers and Naples Skyline locations with her husband, Tag Yarnell, and business partner Gates Rodenfels. "We don't even know what's in the secret spice mixes." They do know that contrary to popular belief there is no chocolate in Skyline's chili. "We found that out due to a customer's allergies," E.B. said. "They were able to tell us that much, but nothing more."
• Why it's hot: "It's so unique. It's like nothing else," E.B. said. Born in Cincinnati, E.B., like many of the area's Ohio transplants, has fond memories of meals at Skyline. But she meets plenty of Fort Myers natives who are just as enthralled by this Greek-style diner dish. "Twenty-five years is a long time," E.B. said. "We meet so many people who are from here and still consider this a tradition because it's been here forever."
Skyline Chili is at 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, 278-3929; and 710 Ninth St. N., Naples, 649-5665; skylinechili.com.
Connect with this reporter: @ATometich (Twitter)
