Welcome

 Millions of people are familiar with the Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides (Founder of Skyline Chili in Cincinnati), and have enjoyed the "3-Ways, 4-ways" and more.

As my Grand-father told it to me, the only other person in America who had the top secret family recipe, that made Skyline Chili so famous, was Nicholas' brother Pete Lambrinides.

Pete settled in Elizabeth City, North Carolina and, like his more famous brother, used the family recipe to start his own restaurant.  His relatively obscure venture was aptly called "Pete's Hot Dogs".  You could choose to get it over spaghetti, but due to the small size of the location and very limited seating, most people would grab the hot dogs.

In the 1940s Pete and my Grandfather Johnny Rogerson (Pop to me) became very good friends.  Pop was a Police Officer who helped Pete after he was robbed at gun-point.

Pop tried to convince Pete numerous times to give him the recipe for that chili, but Pete refused every time.  He said it was a closely guarded secret and he couldn't betray the trust of his family.

Finally, as Pete was preparing to close his business and retire, he gave into my Grandfather's request.  The only stipulation was that he not share it with a single soul as long as Pete was alive.

Good to his word, Pop never gave it to anyone except my Grandmother (Nanny to me) until Pete passed away in the early 1970s. 

I grew up on this stuff at my Grandparent's house.  I will never forget the pleasing aroma in Nanny's kitchen while we had to wait for the concoction to simmer for at least 3 hours.  It was torture until I saw Nanny put those spaghetti noodles on to boil.  Then I knew we were just minutes away from a culinary delight.

My Grandmother gave this recipe to my mother before she passed away in the 1990s.  I don't think she knew the sheer pleasure it gave me to come home and get a whiff of that ever pleasing familiar fragrance that flowed through the entire house as it simmered on the stove for hours.

My mom passed the coveted recipe down to me.  Now, to honor my Grandfather, I'm going to provide others with this absolutely delightful experience from my youth.