Subject: Walgreens Chili Con Carne Recipe?
From: Jamie
Date: 4/16/2020, 4:14 PM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com
On 4/16/2020 10:48 AM, Jamie wrote:
Hello Uncle Phaedrus!
Wondering if you happen to have the recipe for Walgreens Chili Con Carne
from their lunch counter in the 30 through the 50s? Or any recipe that
would use chili that they had like chili-dogs or Frito-pie? I found the
Woolworths Frito-pie recipe but would also love to find Walgreens version
of chili.
Thanks,
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
Well, I can't find any recipes at all from Walgreen's Restaurant. I believe they were also
called "Wag's"? There is a "Wag's" in Frederick, Maryland, but I don't think it was ever
one of the same chain. Chili is on their menu here: Eat at Wag's.
However, as I said, I don't think they are or were ever affiliated with Walgreen's, they
just have the same name.
I'll post this for reader input.
Phaed
Subject: Walgreens Chili!
From: Jamie
Date: 4/28/2020, 9:13 PM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com
Hey Phaedrus!
So I think I answered my own question.
Evidently back in 1995, the Walgreens alumni put out a cookbook called
"Prescriptions For Good Taste" which evidently contained 700 recipes
including ones from the restaurant as well as submitted recipes from former
workers families etc.
Well they do have a chili recipe in there and it is claimed to be the one
from "Walgreen Cafeterias, 1940 - 1960". I don't have the book yet as it's
around $40 for a copy right now, but someone in a newspaper printed it back
in 1996 so with my newspapers.com subscription I was able to find the recipe
and have attached it here. It is definitely modified, as a lunch counter recipe
as you know would have been written to serve a lot more people. When I get the
book itself I will see if there is any context with the recipe mentioning the
portion reduction etc.
Thanks,
Jamie
Walgreen's Chili con Carne & Beans
Walgreen's Cafeterias
1940s - 1960s
2 lbs ground beef, chuck or round
2 - 3 TBSP oilve oil or other vegetable oil
1 medium onion coarsely chopped
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp gound cumin
2 TBSP chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp blsck pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
4 to 6 cups water
2 (15 1/2-ounce cans of red kidney beans
Brown beef in olive oil, stirring frequently.
Add onions and continue to saute until onions
are cooked. Add all seasonings, spices, tomato
paste water and kidney beans. Cook slowly for
about 1-1/2 hours. Makes 1/2 gallon.
Serves 8 - 10.
