A carry out place in Peoria is offering special homemade chili.

Eric Shangraw is sampling the menu at Ken's Gourmet Chili in this week's You Gotta Eat.

Ken's Gourmet Chili is a little spot on North Sheridan. Its' so small, there's no seating, only a kitchen and cash register. Owner Ken Garner says he's perfected a 20–year–old chili recipe, which is his business staple. He makes two kinds each morning.

I do one that is 93–percent fat free beef. And there is one with a higher fat content. People that are diabetic can eat the one that has the low fat content, said Garner.

It seems everyone has an opinion about what makes good chili.

Good meat. Some spice. But not so hot that (it hurts your throat). I like a little spice. That's what she says we have here, said customer Sharlene Webb.

We ordered two eight ounce chili's... one fat free, fried chicken wings and French fries, which are cooked to order. I also ordered a turkey sub sandwich, cake and two drinks. Our bill $20.90 cents. We then drove to lower Bradley Park and turned our news van into the company lunchroom annex. The chili was loaded with beef, brown and black beans, tomatoes and just the right amount of spice. I peeled off some wet–wilted lettuce on my sub before diving in. Photographer Leon Hendricks believes in chili preparation. He loaded his chili with extra hot sauce and crackers before take a load to his lips. He said the fries and wings were fine... but we agreed its' the chili which gets four stars. We never did determine which one was fat free. We finished our meal in the park with a piece of cake and called it a day... an outstanding day for eating chili.

Ken's Gourmet and Chili is open six days a week from ten–thirty until six. They also cater. Call 685-3013 ahed of time for a quick pick up.