RE: Airing Down....
Okay, let's clarify this. I'm in the SW, where most of the US chile or chili comes from, and to us Chili, as a phenomenon of that red stuff with beans (such as Wolf brand) is "TEXAS" style chile. To me, it's stew. Chili is the ingredient you put IN to stew to give it heat and flavor. (what most of you probably call "Hot peppers or Chili peppers)
If you go to Mexico, New Mexico, or most places outside of the US, if you ask for chili, you'll get hot peppers of some kind ie Jalapenos, Jabaneros, or Green Chiles. That's what I consider "Chile."
Down here in NM, we put green chile on EVERYTHING (eggs, pizza, hamburgers) And we eat Green Chile Stew, which is just about the best thing in the world. With that, I like it either with or without beans. But Texas style chili I think MUST have beans, otherwise it sucks.
If you go to a New Mexican (not mexican) restaurant, and ask for chile, they'll usually ask 'Red or Green?" (which is a red puried sauce or chopped green chiles to pour on top) I llke both on my Huevos or enchiladas.
In El Paso, if you ask for chile, they'll usually bring you Jalapenos whole to naw on with our meal.
Damn, now I'm hungry.
Green chile:
Texas chili (Stew)