The Atrium Food Court at Fashion Island serves a wide range of cuisine to please all tastes. There are a dozen popular restaurants predominately national chains - but it also has the one and only Red Rock Chili Company, which will celebrate its first anniversary in December. Expansion, plans include sites in Wales; a new casino at Las Vegas; and a second location in Orange County restaurant. Co-owners Carol and Paul Collis spent years developing the chili concept restaurant and both contribute to its success. Paul created all the recipes, and Carol has 30 years of restaurant experience. Instead of duplicating their first two cafes in Old Towne Orange and Santa Ana which served standard cafe fare - sandwiches, soups and pastas � they selected a chili theme. First, they researched cookbooks, tried a zillion recipes; experimented with ingredients and then threw chili parties. Friends voted on their favorites and five winners were selected, with one rotating recipe as the daily special. Each day, Red Rock Chili Company makes 32 quarts of each chili recipe with top-quality ingredients; nothing is frozen. They only cook with freshly ground 10% lean beef, lean chuck steak, Foster Farms chicken breasts, firm tofu and fresh vegetables. Hot dogs are Hebrew National and green leaf lettuces are used in salads � never plain iceberg. The daily chili line-up includes Cincinnati style � choice of chili type over spaghetti, Red Rock Chili, Hot Rock Chili, White Rock Chili and Chili of the Day. (In Cincinnati, more chili is consumed per capita than any other city in the country.) FYI � WHAT: Red Rock Chili Co. � HOURS: 11AM to 9PM Mon - Saturday; 11AM to 7PM on Sunday. � WHERE: Atrium Court, Fashion Island in Newport Beach. � INFORMATION: (949) 760-0752 http://www.redrockchili.com Carol Collis said that nearly 500 restaurants specialize in the city's unique chili. It's served on everything from spaghetti to hot dogs. Its melange of spices include allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and, unsweetened chocolate. Local customers aren't as enthusiastic about the delicately spicy and sweet flavor: They favor the regular Red Rock chili; which is made with ground beef, beans and a secret ingredient that adds a nice and rich flavor. Other popular favorites are the mildly spicy white rock chili, which is simmered with chicken breast, white beans and mild green chilies. Vegetarians order the chili cooked with sliced tofu, black and garbanzo beans; and sweet corn. Atkin's followers request the high-protein, low-carbohydrate Caribbean chili � one of the daily specials. It's made without beans and seasoned with Cajun spices, Italian sausage and Spanish green olives. The hot rock chili is ideal for those who crave spicy foods. "It's knock your socks off hot," Carol Collis said. The wonderful flavors come from habaneros, smoked chipotles and jalapeno chilis. Turkey chili recipes were omitted from the menu � turkey has an unappetizing gray color and it's worse under the food court's lighting. Chili comes in three sizes with a choice of hot jalapeno or original corn muffins, sourdough or cheese bread. Each order is topped with a mixture of cheddar, parmesan and Monterey jack cheeses : eight ounces is $3.75; .a l6-ounce bowl is $4.95; and a large 32-ounce, family-size serving is $7.95. Red Rock prepares just about every chilirelated dish available. Most dishes are topped with freshly gated cheddar or Monterey jack cheeses ; diced onions and sour cream. Eleven selections range from $4.25 to $6.95 � offering a great wide choice for most palettes. A chili pot pie will debut in early 2004. Don't want chili? There are freshly made soups and salads � from vegetarian to home-style chicken, lentil and tomato basil. Salads include Greek potato, cucumber dill, red cabbage and fresh greens. Red Rock Chili Company is open daily from 11AM to 9PM Monday through Saturday and until 8PM on Sunday. Take-out and large order catering is available. For more information, contact Red Rock Chili at 949.760.0752 or visit their web site at www.redrockchili.com.
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