What's the Deal with the Frito Pie?

[dayzella]

It seems like everywhere I go, "frito pie" is on the menu.  Is it Tulsa's signature dish?  

And if it isn't ... is the signature dish "sausage roll"?  

And what exactly is a "sausage roll"?  I keep picturing either biscuits and sausage gravy or a hotdog with a crescent roll wrapped around it.

And while I'm here talking about food again, why are all the "green salads" I've ordered made of iceberg lettuce, and have cheese and croutons on them?

I'm willing to try a frito pie or a sausage roll if someone can convince me it would be worthwhile.  The "green salads" I'm about to swear off forever.

[sgrizzle]

More likely 4-way than Frito chili pie. Same concept, but on spaghetti noodles. Pick one up at Ron's.

The sausage roll is a smoked sausage wrapped in a crescent roll or sometimes biscuit. Cheese is common, Jalapeño versions or also usually available.

[waterboy]

I love Frito pies! I get one occassionally at Jim's Coney Island at 19th & Harvard. Used to be that every little burger stand offered them as they were easy to make. They would turn the Fritos bag sideways and cut across the length of the bag then pour chili over it and sprinkle a little cheese on top.

Sausage rolls are as you described and good with a little mustard. About 10,000 calories for either item.

[Conan71]

Jim's "never on Sunday".  I knew there was something else to like about you WB.  I get my gyro fix there about every other week.

Carl's Coney Island at Crystal City on the west side has a pretty respectible Frito pie.  Add lots of onions & mustard and you get heartburn the rest of the day, but it seems so worth it going down!

[dayzella]

I'm pretty sure chili whatever way is Cincinnati's signature dish, not Tulsa's.

The sausage rolls ... are they smallish, like a pig in a blanket?  The pictures of the ones on the internets from the UK and Australian are enormous and look like puff pastry, not refrigerator biscuit.

I want to go to Jim's Never on Sunday ... but mostly because I thought that was the actual name of the place.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by dayzella

I'm pretty sure chili whatever way is Cincinnati's signature dish, not Tulsa's.

The sausage rolls ... are they smallish, like a pig in a blanket?  The pictures of the ones on the internets from the UK and Australian are enormous and look like puff pastry, not refrigerator biscuit.

I want to go to Jim's Never on Sunday ... but mostly because I thought that was the actual name of the place.

I believe "never on Sunday" is on the curb sign or window.  I'm in there often enough I don't even pay attention anymore.

I've never measured, but sausage rolls are usually about a hot dog link length.  Some places leave the ends sticking out, others it's completely covered.  There are three places I get them near my house:

The donut shop in the same center as Jim's, Merrit's on 15th St. or Paradise Donuts at about 15th & Evanston.

Try it unless you are allergic to fat!

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by dayzella

I'm pretty sure chili whatever way is Cincinnati's signature dish, not Tulsa's.

The sausage rolls ... are they smallish, like a pig in a blanket?  The pictures of the ones on the internets from the UK and Australian are enormous and look like puff pastry, not refrigerator biscuit.

I want to go to Jim's Never on Sunday ... but mostly because I thought that was the actual name of the place.

I believe "never on Sunday" is on the curb sign or window.  I'm in there often enough I don't even pay attention anymore.

I've never measured, but sausage rolls are usually about a hot dog link length.  Some places leave the ends sticking out, others it's completely covered.  There are three places I get them near my house:

The donut shop in the same center as Jim's, Merrit's on 15th St. or Paradise Donuts at about 15th & Evanston.

Try it unless you are allergic to fat!

Jim's is great.

If you like Greek/Mediterranean food also try Tabouli's on Main downtown and The Submariner at 61st and Lewis.

[dayzella]

quote:

quote:

Try it unless you are allergic to fat!

Jim's is great.

If you like Greek/Mediterranean food also try Tabouli's on Main downtown and The Submariner at 61st and Lewis.

I am allergic to fat.  Something horrible happens to my thighs when I eat it.  I don't want to talk about it - I'm emotionally scarred.  But in the name of science, sacrifices must be made.

That's another thing I don't understand, swake - why does almost every restaurant here have tabbouleh on the menu, regardless of the actual theme or cuisine on the rest of the menu?  

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by dayzella

It seems like everywhere I go, "frito pie" is on the menu.  Is it Tulsa's signature dish?  

Not Tulsa's signature dish, but I think it is more of a regional, Oklahoma/Texas kind of thing.  I seem to recall on more than one episode of "King of the Hill," Peggy was fixing Hank and Bobby Frito/chili pie.  Must be a regional favorite, and I like it too.

[sgrizzle]

I never liked the merrits sausage roll. I shouldn't need a knife to break the skin. Paradise donuts (every location) makes a good Jalapeno sausage roll and even the QT one isn't half bad.

Cincinatti is famous for a kind of Chili, most often associated with the Skyline Chili restaurant but chili contents and preparation vary widely across the US. Northern chili is often thin while southern chili might have large chunks of meat, vegetables, and beans.

[joiei]

Frito pie started in Texas and at some point crossed the Red a while back.  Definitely a regional thing.

[Ed W]

I'd never heard of Frito pie until I moved here.  My son loves it, but there's too much salt and fat for me.  I'd never heard of serving chili over pasta either, though that's some regional specialty in Ohio, I think.  Chill over rice, however, is now one of my favorites.

[Breadburner]

quote:Originally posted by dayzella

It seems like everywhere I go, "frito pie" is on the menu.  Is it Tulsa's signature dish?  

And if it isn't ... is the signature dish "sausage roll"?  

And what exactly is a "sausage roll"?  I keep picturing either biscuits and sausage gravy or a hotdog with a crescent roll wrapped around it.

And while I'm here talking about food again, why are all the "green salads" I've ordered made of iceberg lettuce, and have cheese and croutons on them?

I'm willing to try a frito pie or a sausage roll if someone can convince me it would be worthwhile.  The "green salads" I'm about to swear off forever.

Go away Davazzzzz......

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Ed W

I'd never heard of Frito pie until I moved here.  My son loves it, but there's too much salt and fat for me.  I'd never heard of serving chili over pasta either, though that's some regional specialty in Ohio, I think.  Chill over rice, however, is now one of my favorites.

I second that Ed W.  I am a born & bred Oklahoman, but one of my all-time favorites is chili over rice.  Both my brother and myself love it, and when I get a craving for childhood comfort foods, I make chili & rice!  My parents were both from the St. Louis/southern Belleville Illinois area, my mother's family were all originally from Ohio, but I don't know if that influenced their cuisine. As a born and raised Oklahoman, I love chili & rice!

[Conan71]

I don't ever think of chili over rice.  I've got the remants of a large NYD pot in the fridge.  I guess I'll toss the Fritos and try rice!