Surprisingly, Scottish immigrants to the southern United States brought their tradition of deep-frying chicken, which dates back to the Middle Ages, unlike their English cousins who used to grill or boil it. The settlers accepted it and many of the early African slaves cooked it, adding the condiments available, not only for themselves, but also to introduce into the elegant dining rooms of the plantation owners. Thus was born the national dish simply called “Southern Fried Chicken”.
It soon became a traditional Sunday dinner throughout the southern United States, with mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, and cookies. 19th century cookbook author Mary Randolph first recorded the recipe in her landmark classic, “The Virginia Housewife.” It seems that Mary’s brother was married to Martha Jefferson, the daughter of Thomas Jefferson, who grew up with it. And speaking of the foodies’ president, Thomas Jefferson, their resident chef had French training but was a former slave at Monticello, so he no doubt cooked a fried chicken dinner for Jefferson’s guests and dinners for the Sundays.
Fast forward a century to a small restaurant owner named Harlan Sanders (“the Colonel”) who opened his first gas station restaurant in the 1930s. Located in Corbin, Kentucky, it was called Sanders’ Court & Café, and although It was slow for years, word got out about his tasty fried chicken, and in 1952, the Colonel began franchising his popular product, which was a success, not only because of “11 herbs and spices,” but also his cooking method. faster using high pressure fryers. With its slogan “To Lick Your Finger,” Kentucky Fried Chicken (or simply KFC) began to appear across the country, and the Colonel, in his trademark white suit, became an American icon.
Not to be outdone, New Orleans businessman Al Copeland opened an establishment called Chicken on the Run in 1972. His spicy and crispy chicken was hugely popular with foodies in his hometown, and four years later he changed the He named Popeye’s (after a movie hero, not the cartoon character who eats spinach) and began selling franchises. Bojangles, another popular chain, soon followed in 1977 in North Carolina. Others less well known but regionally popular include Texas-based Church’s and Chicago-based Brown’s.
While still a favorite dish for family dinner and soul food, many fast food restaurants jumped on the bandwagon and wisely began offering a chicken sandwich in the 1970s and 1980s for their customers who preferred something other than hamburgers. beef, adding nuggets and strips with a spicy and creamy dressing. sauces Now Americans can develop their passion for fried chicken in many different versions of fast food:
Buffalo chicken wings
Chicken fingers (not actually fingers)
Nuggets and strips
Chicken and waffles: soul food and Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine
Fried chicken sandwiches
Some countries eat chicken feet, but we are not going to get into that.
Wings N Things and Buffalo Wild Wings, both founded in 1982, captured an audience with what was once considered the least desirable part of the chicken – a craze that has taken on a life of its own. Truly created in Buffalo, NY as your staple bar or snack food, they have become popular across the country, consisting of a section of breadless chicken wings that are usually deep fried and then topped with a spicy vinegar-based sauce. .
(Note: this author has intentionally excluded America’s favorite chicken sandwich fast food restaurant, founded in the 1940s, due to trademark restrictions, but everyone knows who they are – they’re closed on Sundays, hint, hint ).
Just for the record, Asians have been frying chicken for centuries (Cantonese and Korean styles), but that’s another story.
Without a doubt, the best fried chicken could be debated forever and no one would agree. Some family restaurants are local legends, big franchises dominate the roadsides, and even celebrity chefs put their personal stamp on their favorite versions. But one thing is certain: America’s love story with fried chicken in all its forms and variations. And that is unlikely to change anytime soon.
