We love a lot of things in the Ozarks, and chili is definitely right up there. Being in the middle of America means we get to enjoy the variety of four seasons. When it’s cool outside, we like to warm it up with chili. We’re even known to eat it during the warmer months.
In honor of National Chili Day, restaurant chain Wienerschnitzel, conducted a study to rank the nation’s top chili-loving cities. Springfield, Mo. ranked eighth, joining cities like Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio, which is credited with first popularizing chili in the 1890s.
Springfield followed Los Angeles; Dallas; Phoenix; Houston; San Francisco/Oakland; Chicago; and Baton Rouge, La. Cincinnati and San Antonio round out the top 10.
Criteria for judging the top cities included per-capita chili consumption, chili cookoffs, number of chili-restaurants and love for the famous dish. Wienerschnitzel combined its own and third-party chili consumption data with local restaurant and chili cookoff trend information, along with other quantitative and qualitative research.
“Despite its reputation for Cashew Chicken and other Midwest comfort food, Springfield is among the most sophisticated chili markets in the country and home to an increasing number of chili lovers,” said Doug Koegeboehn, chief marketing officer for Wienerschnitzel Koegeboehn. “Like Wienerschnitzel, Springfieldians take their chili very seriously.”
Irvine, Calif.-based Wienerschnitzel, is known for its namesake Chili Dog, made from a secret recipe, in more than 300 restaurants in eleven states nationwide. To learn more about the restaurant chain, visit www.wienerschnitzel.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.