chili for dinner tonight - what to serve with it, more elegant crowd than expected?

Serve it over creamy goat cheese polenta with some roasted vegetables alongside.

what about popovers along with corn muffins, they always look fancy, or just saw a cornbread panzella salad here.

Ina Garten likes to serve "rustic" food to chic crowds....and anything Ina does.....

It may be too late for you, but I would do an app that plays off the Tex-Mex theme -- maybe guacamole and pico de gallo served with endive spears instead of chips; mini tortilla "cups" filled with corn salsa; or jicama spears sprinkled with lime juice and chili powder. With the chili you could serve a crisp green salad with a lime/honey vinaigrette and individual corn muffins. Maybe a lighter dessert to balance the heavy main, like a tropical fruit salad with this tequila sauce: http://dessert.food.com/recipe/tequila-lime-syrup-for-fruit-salad-135029.

Tell them it's a down home party with chili and fixin's, have everyone dress casually and bring their favorite craft beer, and don't sweat it. Even fancy people like chili.

I'd serve the chili over spaghetti and have toppings like cheese, sour cream, green onion etc. and then toss a crisp green salad and garlic bread.

Just cook whatever fancy food you want and make the chili a side dish. If you want to maintain a theme, stick with Mexican dishes.

Personally, I'd just serve the chili: "here's what I made - enjoy!" and not worry about catering to the crowd. After all, it's my home and I'm not a restaurant or your mom cooking your favorite breakfast.

But that's just me.