Ike’s Chili has been a part of Tulsa cuisine for a hundred & six years now. Inside the restaurant are copies of newspaper stories from decades past. One, from the early 1930s, references Ike’s as already a Tulsa “institution.” A Frito Pie, if you’re unlucky enough to have never encountered one, is a serving of Fritos corn chips, topped with chili, typically also with shredded cheese & diced onions. Ike’s adds some jalapeno to the mix and it’s not unwelcome. The Frito pie is a real institution here in Oklahoma and it only becomes more of one as you head into Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. This one isn’t the best I’ve ever had or anything, but it’s very good. I was surprised at the smallness of the portion; this is actually a meal that I was able to eat in a single sitting, which is quite rare for the meals I’m encountering on this project. The jalapeno slices are a bit of addition to the Frito pie formula, at least around here; I’m told that as you trek into New Mexico they become a standard part of the dish. The chili itself wasn’t particularly spicy, so I think the jalapenos help with that. It was everything a Frito pie needs to be; it wasn’t particularly a lot more, as in being like the definitive Frito pie of my life or anything, but it’s a solid serving of delicious tradition. Very good. 3 ½ stars.
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Je n'aime pas dans les vieux films américains quand les conducteurs ne regardent pas la route. Et de ratage en ratage, on s'habitue à ne jamais dépasser le stade du brouillon. La vie n'est que l'interminable répétition d'une représentation qui n'aura jamais lieu.