I had the great pleasure of meeting and interviewing Nizam B. Ali, son of the founder of Ben's Chili Bowl. The business, 52 years old, has been energized by the visit in January 2009 by then President-elect Barack Obama and more recently, the French president and his wife. The restaurant is true to its heritage and has been visited by celebrities including Bono and Bill Cosby, who is a huge fan.
Mr. Ali was a gracious host. He showed us the new business, called Next Door, which is a more upscale and varied dining establishment. Upstairs, there's a gift shop.
