I had this when visiting friends in N'awlins. He didn't know the source of the recipe, but this was sure passable chili. In a large, heavy pot, brown the meat with the onions and the garlic. Drain off the fat and stir in the chili powder (depending on quality, you may want more we get real cool stuff up here in the north). Add chilies, tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaves, salt, oregano, vinegar, and brown sugar. Cover the pot and cook for 2 hours over low heat. Add beans and cook, uncovered, 30 minutes more. Serve with side dishes of corn chips, shredded lettuce, and shredded Cheddar cheese.