Springfield “Chilli”
Chili in Illinois isn’t chili: It’s “chilli,” with two l’s. The origins of this spelling are a matter of some conjecture, attributed either to an error by a sign painter at one of the state’s original chili parlors or to a desire to mirror the spelling of “Illinois.” According to local lore, the state capital of Springfield is also the state’s capital of chilli, as that was where Joe DeFrates, a legendary figure in the history of American chili (“the only man ever to win the National and the World Chili Championships,” according to the ICS), first started serving up his signature recipe, which consisted of tender ground beef, Hunt’s canned tomato sauce, a secret spice mix that included chili powder, and a dash of Tabasco.
The people of Illinois take their chilli just about as seriously as Texans take their chili, as evidenced by the passage of a joint resolution in 1993 by the Illinois House and Senate proclaiming the state “The Chilli Capital of the World” (perhaps a less provocative claim than if they had used the traditional spelling).
