Xavier's Adam Kunkel appears on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' with Cincinnati-style chili

Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer
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A Musketeer and a beloved local dish recently appeared on a national talk show.

Xavier University men's basketball guard Adam Kunkel, who is from Hebron, Kentucky, appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" alongside Cincinnati-style chili Tuesday, March 28. The duo competed against Creighton University women's basketball guards Morgan Maly and Jayme Horan, and Nebraska's famous runza meat rolls on the show's new segment "Snack Bracket," a March Madness-style search for America's best regional food.

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According to a clip from the March 28 episode, two regional foods are facing off in a taste test each day this week to win the coveted Final Fork Trophy.

Kunkel explained the chili's flavor, how it's made and the way it's typically eaten to the Grammy award-winning Clarkson. The Cooper High School alum told The Enquirer in October he prefers a classic three-way from Skyline Chili, despite the dish's many variations, from coneys to five-ways.

Xavier's Adam Kunkel appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" alongside Cincinnati-style chili Tuesday.
Xavier's Adam Kunkel appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" alongside Cincinnati-style chili Tuesday.

Clarkson, an "American Idol" winner and a judge on NBC's "The Voice," sampled the polarizing Cincinnati staple.

"Oh my gosh, yeah. It's delicious, dude," she said.

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Despite her rave review, Clarkson chose the runza roll, described by Maly as a "warm, soft, buttery meat roll" that contains ground beef, onion, cabbage and cheese, as the winning dish for that round, advancing the regional delicacy to the final four.

"Dude, I like the chili, but I'm gonna say, Jayme and Morgan, this is a fancy Hot Pocket that I'm in to," Clarkson said.

Kunkel and the Musketeers' season ended Friday, March 24, when they lost to Texas, 83-71, in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. Xavier finished the season 27-10.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier star, Cincinnati chili appear on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show'