Month: May 2019

This one had something I really like which is that smoky flavor. Famous Dave’s is more noted for their BBQ so I’m sure they take some of their smoked meats for the chili. I wanted to say the meat was more like a sausage than beef but it was hard to tell. Either way it was really good. I’m having a tough time remembering if there was even any beans in it…which was just fine with me. There was a little veg in there but mostly just good ole chili goodness. You can see there was a little cheese on it which was perfect. I had the “cup” which was really a nice size and value. Overall I’d get this again hands-down. Solid chili flavor with that hint of smoky bbq to give it a unique profile.

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶7.7/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6.2/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 6/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10

This is another one I’ve had a ton in my life, well more for a short period of time. I worked at a bar in college and this was our chili. We would get a big bag, put it on the stove top to heat up and into a bread bowl to serve. For me I have to think other restaurants follow suit, where it is Captain Ken’s or some other bulk frozen brand. Bottom line is you would be hard pressed to find another frozen chili that is better. Number one – there has to be something about frozen vs canned being better. I think the beans hold up better and you don’t get that “tin can” aftertaste. As you can see from the picture there is a good amount of meat and what beans are in the bowl were nice. There were a few other things in there like a pepper here and there but nothing to speak of. There was also a little kick which I wasn’t expecting. I can’t remember what it costs but it came in a little serving tray with the plastic top you poke holes in and it really didn’t fill up my bowl as much as I was expecting, so the serving size could have been a little bigger. Would I get again?? Sure I would. It is just a really solid chili with no complaints on taste at all!

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 6.9/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶4/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶🌶 4/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶4/10

This is a place I frequent often and this is the first time chili has been offered as one of the specials. Not sure how often they have it but it should be a regular menu item! My initial view was “I’m not going to like this because I thought I saw some carrots or corn in there” but luckily I was wrong. (hint – carrots/corn don’t belong in chili)

This had a really good flavor. I detected a little sweetness, like it has some brown sugar or molasses in it. Really solid chili flavor, good heat and a nice portion. I really couldn’t find any faults in this and would definitely get it again…if I know when that would be! Not a ton of beans in it, nice amount of meat and just a little cheese and sour cream and onion to jazz it up.

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶7/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6.4/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 6/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10

Just an FYI, I’ve had this chili probably 50 times. You know, it delivers every time. I’d say this borders more on the classic “Texas Red” competition chili as there are basically no beans in it. It is just a classic chili in every sense of the word. Great taste, consistency, flavor and heat. If I’ve had it that many times it must be good! I honestly can’t even tell you how much it costs but I’ll still get it every time I go.

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶🌶 8.7/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6.7/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶🌶7/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10

Nice cup of “breakfast” chili from chef Judy. She went out of the box with a few secret ingredients. It was a little deviation from the norm but a great upgrade. Good ratio of meat to beans, a little tomato and not a lot of vegetables.

The spice mix was good and there was a little heat to it. Nice taste of chili powder and paprika, and a few other spices maybe that I couldn’t seem to get a total grasp of. Definitely a home run and would get again.

This was a free sample as well so great value!

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶🌶 8/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶🌶 🌶 8/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶🌶 🌶🌶 🌶10/10

Have to say I know I’ve had this before and this time was a little different and not as great. Not a lot of “body” to it. It had a taste of mostly vegetables, like runny tomato soup and hamburger. It didn’t come with any cheese/sour cream, etc., which could have helped. It needed some more spices too.

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶 4/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶3/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶4/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶3/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶4/10

So, when you see on a menu a place has a separate little section that is reserved for chili they must be pretty proud of it. (they actually had vegetarian and beef options) I, of course went with the meat. My server asked if I wanted cheese or onions, I went just cheese. First of it was piping hot which I like. At times when you are getting something like this for lunch it hasn’t been warmed up properly but this was nice and hot.

Initial observance – great mix of sauce, meat and beans/vegetables. Pretty even mix of meat to bean (couple different types of beans), good hunks of tomato and a few random peppers and pieces of celery. Taste was really solid! Had a nice chili flavor with some tomato and a little teeny bit a sweetness. I polished this cup off pretty darn quick and maybe a minute after I noticed a little heat on the backend, but nothing too crazy.

Overall this was really good and something I would get again for sure. I do wish the cup was a little bigger, and the “bowl” is only $2 more so curious what size that is… guess I’ll have to try it!

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶🌶 8.4/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6.5/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 🌶 6/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶4/10

I’ve never heard of this company although it looks like they have been around for over a century. Not sure if chili has been a main produce forever…might have to look this up later. It was on sale at my grocery store so I thought I’d give it a chance. (also got a buffalo chicken chili to try later). I just realized now looking at the picture that it was indeed chicken instead of some type of beef. Most of my prior canned chili’s in my life have had a common theme which is a very dense sauce, not much meat and mushy beans. I didn’t have high expectations going in so based on that I guess it over delivered in that sense. I did notice an initial heat, there was some nice hunks of chicken and the beans weren’t too bad. I didn’t really pick up any ancho flavoring or “porter beer” taste. I really couldn’t put a finger on any distinguishing flavor/spice profile. I’d just have to categorize it as a “catch all” of spices, like 10 or so were thrown in a bowl, mixed up and dumped in some massive cooker. On it’s own it wasn’t half bad but I did add some sour cream and cheese mid-way through to finish it off. I’ll have to try some more canned/frozen samples to determine if this is worthy to get again.

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶 4/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶4/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶2/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10

Hey all… found a new little sandwich spot in the downtown Minneapolis skyway system. Not sure if they have chili every day but of course I had to get some. Can’t really tell what the price was as I got “the combo”. First off it is a tad small but not that big of a deal for an extra to go with my wrap.

No cheese, crackers, cheese or anything else for this. The sauce was a tad on the watery side, could have either reduced down a little or maybe have had some tomato paste added to it to give it a little body. There was a nice mix of meat, beans and veg. The predominant flavor I was picking up was green pepper. There were some other spices working hard to battle for top dog but didn’t quite win. It did have some nice heat! Big question… would I get this again? Sure, I’d give it another whirl.

Overall taste 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 5.8/10

Spice Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6/10

Heat Level 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶6/10

IT Factor 🌶🌶🌶3/10

Value 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶5/10