Thermos 3-Tier Bento #33

This is vegan Frito chili pie with close to all the stops pulled out (if I was pulling out all of them, I'd make my own chili and also have avocado, and maybe some jalapenos if I were in the mood): Black olives, diced tomatoes, non-dairy sour cream, scallions, vegetarian chili topped with Daiya cheddar, and Fritos.

I did this because all the major components were on sale. I already had the sour cream, and the Daiya wasn't on sale. But literally everything else was! And it's not like this is Frito chili pie country, either, so that was pretty cool. Maybe the store manager is secretly craving this meal, too.

If you're unfamiliar with Frito chili pie, the concept is similar to Cincinnati chili, although that may not help you either (and now I kind of want to make some Cincinnati chili)--in any case, Frito chili pie is chili over Fritos with toppings, and it's very popular in the Southwest. When I lived in Texas, the first time anyone invited me for dinner they always, always served Frito chili pie. It's like nachos you eat with a spoon.

I put the Daiya in with the chili because I wanted it to get melted by lunch, which it did well in this Thermos--I think this style of lunch box is perfect for this, because if you pack it properly it keeps the bottom tier (the chili) hot and the top tier (the toppings) from getting hot. This was utterly delightful. It was junk food, but there are times we all need a little bit of the questionable flavors of our youth.



Comments

  1. Frito chili pie sounds so fun; I definitely need to try it sometime!

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    1. I hope you like it! Cookie Monster would call it a "sometimes food," of course, but it's a special treat for me.

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  2. OMG this sounds amazing!!! I love how all of your toppings are arranged too. The food looks incredible but I also love how you take special care in making your food look beautiful :)

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  3. I’ve never had frito pie! Although i do love to have the “corn dippers” chips from trader joe’s (their wider thicker bersion of fritos) with chili, so that’s close. Such a good idea for lunch!! And not total junk food, it’s not like you had a big bag of fritos and chili is downright nutritious.
    Ttrockwood

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    1. Chili can be so good for you, yes! And I personally love Fritos, so I'll have to look out for the corn dippers. I think Fritos makes something like that already, though? Fritos Scoops? (I don't often make it to Trader Joe's.)

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  4. That sounds like such a fun lunch! Plus I love the cute little heart containers. I haven't had a frito chilli pie, but I have heard of them. I have had Cincinnati chilli! That is the one with spaghetti and cheese sauce, right?

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    1. Cincinnati chili is a kind of pasta sauce, really, so yes, it's spaghetti with chili and cheese (3-way), or with more things (onions, 4-way, and/or beans (5-way)). The chili is a variant on mole sauce, so it has cocoa in it. It is kind of an acquired taste but I like it sometimes!

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    2. I had no idea there were so many ways!

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