U.S. vice presidential candidate JD Vance is weighing in on one of Cincinnati residents’ recent troubles: Graeter’s rumored Skyline Chili Ice Cream.
Concerns over the eyebrow-raising flavor escalated after Kroger’s website claimed that the Cincinnati-based ice cream chain Graeter’s and restaurant chain Skyline Chili appeared to have collaborated to create a “daring fusion of flavors.”
Per the site, the unusual ice cream flavor is infused with chili spices, crunchy oyster crackers and shreds of cheese swirled throughout, providing a “tangy contrast to the sweet treat.”
Vance, an Ohio senator and Republican candidate Donald Trump‘s running mate, commented on the rumored flavor on X citing a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network. Vance has a home in Cincinnati and grew up in Middletown, about 40 miles north of the city.
“President Trump and I will stop this.” Vance wrote.
Is Skyline Chili Ice Cream real?
The website’s listing of a “Graeter’s Skyline Chili Ice Cream Pint” is not an actual ice cream flavor, for now at least.
Sarah Walters – senior director of public relations for Rmd Advertising, which represents Graeter’s – told The Enquirer the Skyline Chili ice cream “flavor was concept art and is not available or in production.”
However, the restaurant chain is working on upcoming “fun collaboration with our spice blend and Graeter’s ice cream,” Skyline Chili Vice President of Marketing and Brand Engagement Sarah Sicking said in a statement.
“We all know Graeter’s makes everything delicious, and creating a unique ice cream blend takes time. We are in the research and development phase with Graeter’s, and we hope it’s ready next year,” Sicking added.
What is Skyline Chili?
Skyline Chili is a restaurant chain known for its local chili dish that originated in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.
Earlier this year, the company took the spot as the No. 1 regional food chain in the nation, according to USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides founded the chili parlor in 1949 and there are now more than 150 locations across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Florida.
What is Graeter’s Ice Cream?
Cincinnati regional ice cream chain was founded in 1870 by Louis Charles Graeter.
The chain has over 50 retail locations and is distributed in thousands of grocery stores throughout the U.S.
In 2019, the chain introduced a Kentucky Derby-inspired flavor, brown butter bourbon pecan. The flavor fused bourbon-glazed pecan pieces in brown butter bourbon ice cream.
