Jeffrey, Chili is as Mexican as Chop Suey is Chinese. Chili was a creation of German immigrants in New Braunfels, TX. (The place still had German influences as late as 2011...part of the name of the local fishwrap is "Zeitung", and its masthead used Gothic-styled lettering.) Now, don't knock me about chili...I can go for it as well as the next guy(though I prefer mine over rice). Now, if I mentioned the part suggesting salt pork to my cardiologist, the cardiologist might have a heart attack!

3/4 teaspoon?..........Stand Back!!

I make my own chili powder & use 2-3 tablespoons of it when I make chili.

Ironside's fondness for chili is what came to mind as soon as I saw the title of this article. He also insisted that his chili pot, which was apparently reserved for preparing only that food, was not to be washed.

I think there is some soaking process you're supposed to go through with dried beans before cooking them in this manner. Some substance in them that can upset your stomach unless it gets rinsed out.

Thank you, but I only meant I never eat chili that has beans.

It's a toxin found in most dried beans, but most pronounced in red kidney beans. The soaking process doesn't directly affect that toxin, it mostly affects the softness of the beans when cooked. The beans have to be heated above the boiling point for at least 10 minutes (but preferably 30 minutes) to break down the toxin and render it safe. This is why it is unsafe to cook kidney beans in a slow cooker from start to finish - it never gets hot enough. Even if you want to do the main cooking in the slow cooker, soak and then boil the beans for 10-30 first.

And no, this isn't an "internet legend". You can look it up in the US Food & Drug Administrations "Bad Bug Book" https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/bad-bug-book-second-edition Page 254

I think it or they are 4.4 to 7.2 oz (ounces) depending on your family
ramekins come in different sizes

A "chili size" is an open-face hamburger on rye toast topped with chili. The "size" part refers to the amount of chili used for this dish, different from what you'd get if you just ordered a cup or bowl of chili.

Thanks for the heads up

I used to get a Spaghetti Size at Bob's Big Boy in Pocatello when I was young. Basically spaghetti topped with chili (no beans), cheese and onions. Yummmie!

Oh. I think you mean "Cincinnati Chili".
A dish best served hot, here in the wilds of southern Ohio.

Very good, although I don't know if Perry would object to Columbo's cigar, since he smoked himself, as did Paul Drake...

True, they both smoked cigarettes (I never saw any episodes where either Perry or Paul smoked cigars or, at least, I can't remember them ever doing it) but those cigars are a completely different story. I absolutely despise smoking (it killed my mother and at least one, if not both, of her late brothers.) Some cigars might not smell too bad, at least at first. But there are cigars are really, really stinky.

And I would imagine that the cigars Columbo smoked were especially stinky.

Oops, looks like they cut to commercial break a bit early! Here's the rest of that segment:

Columbo: Oh! Oh, *I'M* sorry, I didn't— I'll put it out. I should never have brought it in here, sir, sorry, it's a nasty habit, my wife's always trying to get me to quit... here. *puts out cigar* I'm so sorry about that.
Perry Mason: That's alright. It's just that Della is a little allergic to smoke. Think nothing more of it.
Columbo: Thank you, sir. And I can't wait to tell my wife about the job, she'll be so thrilled! Just thrilled!

Perry Mason: So, I'll hear from you later.

Columbo: Yes, sir. Thank you sir. Well, goodbye! *nods, waves and smiles, goes to door, exits*

Perry Mason sits at desk, reaches for some papers...

*sound of door opening*

Columbo: Ah, just one more thing, sir...
[Perry Mason, unlike all those nervous killers, isn't irritated at all]. "Yes, what is it?
Columbo: I was just wondering, sir, it was sorta BOTHering me... I just have to ask you...
Perry Mason: Yes? What is it?
Columbo: Uhhhhh, when you say "chunk of salt pork", is it like— I mean I don't know about these things *runs hands through hair*... my wife knows this stuff but I wouldn't even know where to begin, but I just wanted to make sure?.... *scratches head* Uhhhh, what exactly is a chunk? Is it like 2 pounds, 3 ounces or what? I'm not really a kitchen guy.

*zoom to close-up of Mason's face, puzzled, pensive, surprised*
Perry Mason: You know, I've never thought about that... Della—
Della Street: Yes, Perry?
Perry Mason- Della, get Paul on the phone…
*music crescendos dramatically*

*cut to Lerner and Rowe commercial*