History shows chili soothes the soul
When the young, upwardly mobile of the late 19th Century descended upon a young land called
Snake-oil salesmen, saloon-owners, traveling theater troupes, launderers, clergymen joined food vendors in attempting to civilize the wind-blown plainsmen.
Chili parlors started popping up before 1900 in Oklahoma and enjoyed prosperity for more than 50 years. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, 33 chili parlors are documented in 16 communities from 1897 through 1948, including Perry, Grant,
Ike’s Chili Parlor opened in Tulsa around that time. It lasted long enough to become a favorite haunt of Will Rogers. He apparently regularly coughed up 15 cents for hot bowl at Ike’s. That, obviously, was Depression-proof pricing. And so Ike’s carried on, gaining fame when Peggy Cass announced to a national television audience on “What’s My Line?” during the 1960s, that Ike’s was indeed the best chili in the country and that she had some in her freezer at home. Ike’s still thrives in Tulsa at 5941 E Admiral.Lyndon Johnson, born and reared on the banks of the Pedernales River, understood the soul-soothing qualities of good chili.
Johnson never figured out Hippies or Vietnam as president. He left the Democratic Party in a shambles. He won a close Senate election against Gov. Coke Stevenson in which a key district later showed voters, in a miraculous show of coincidence, cast their lots in alphabetical order.
And yet, bus tours still run daily to his family ranch.
I like to think it’s because his wife, Lady Bird, made Pedernales River chili a household recipe during the LBJ’s abbreviated stay in the White House. LBJ is remembered as a good ol’ boy and Lady Bird has a library named after her.
Chili, not a divider!
And think what might’ve been had State Rep. Randy Terrill been around back in the 19-oughts. We might not have any chili at all. The original Ike and his nephew Ivan Johnson, purportedly got the chili recipe from an employee named Alex Garcia, of, umm, Texas.
Doubt he had a green card.
Would you have us a chili-free state, Randy? Lucky for you, this information wasn’t circulated before the elections.
Does deciding between red or white make you blue?
Once upon a time, you drank white wine with white meats and red wine with meats. Simple, right?
Well, now chic sommeliers will tell you that the old ways are, well, old. Mixing whites with a steak is just fine, if you get the right grapes involved.
In his new book, “The Complete Robuchon,” Joel Robuchon begs to differ. He writes that if you’re serving roast lamb or beef, a hearty red is still the correct choice. He says whites are always a good choice for fish and most poultry dishes. Robuchon, considered one of the world’s greatest chefs if not THE greatest, believes in finding a common flavor between the wine and the food and attempting tie them together. He also says if you’re serving an important bottle, serve it with something simple and vice-versa. Sound advice.
At my house, there’s a lot of heat coming out of the kitchen. I have a tendency to Mexify my meals with fresh serrano chiles or dried chiles de arbol. A lot of people think the only wine worth serving with tacos al carbon comes in a longneck bottle but of the 12-ounce variety. True, you can’t go wrong with a Pacifico or Bohemia, but don’t be afraid to chill a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, preferably from New Zealand’s Marlborough region. Cakebread Cellars also offers an excellent Blanc, but now you’re getting near the $30 mark for a bottle of wine. These wines aren’t as dry as chardonnays and offer a hint of sweetness, without going over to Riesling country, and cut through the spiciness.
If you want to bring a bottle of wine to a dinner party, try finding out what your host is serving then consult with your local wine shop’s steward. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to grab a dessert wine. Rombauer makes a port that will change your life.
