Has anyone else noticed the massive amount of fried chicken press lately? New York Magazine had a photo spread that was so beautiful I tore it out and posted it on my wall as if it was a girl in a bikini and I was a teenage boy.
Then the Times answered the chicken as food porn challenge with their own list of finger lickin’ choices with accompanying photo. What is a fried chicken fanatic, like me, to do with all this stimulation?
I would not call myself a fried chicken connoisseur because that would define my chicken eating habits as selective. My fried chicken consumption is not refined or based on the knowledge of the perfect fried chicken technique – no - it is much more primal. If fried chicken is put in front of me I automatically react as if starvation is on the way and I must eat everything in preparation. The famine never comes - of course – just more chicken but all of this chicken news got me pondering why I’ve always loved it?
Friend chicken and I go way back. I have this memory, that may be real or not, of me in a dark wood highchair, wearing a bib and eating the small pieces placed in front of me with my fingers. I don’t remember the taste but I do remember not being able to stop. I had found my crack and the seductive hand of addiction took hold. From that day forward every birthday and any other occasion where I got to choose the menu it was chicken.
Fried chicken has had such an impact on my life that one of my strongest adolescent memories is of me driving through the Red Barn drive-through (on my bike) and enjoying the meals by the loading dock. Yes, I ate fast food fried chicken from a box while sitting on a loading dock (I’m waiting for the episode of Intervention where I see this scenario played out – I know its coming).
I have celebrated with chicken and drowned my sorrows in its crispy goodness. I remember feeling like a kindred soul mate to Liz Taylor when she was quoted saying Popeyes chicken was her favorite meal. See, even goddess superstars have friend chicken weaknesses. Chicken has been my friend, my lover, my companion and now it's popular. I can honestly say I was ahead of this trend. I have spent a lifetime appreciating this wonderful comfort food and I am happy the world is celebrating its praises – now lets eat!
Then the Times answered the chicken as food porn challenge with their own list of finger lickin’ choices with accompanying photo. What is a fried chicken fanatic, like me, to do with all this stimulation?
I would not call myself a fried chicken connoisseur because that would define my chicken eating habits as selective. My fried chicken consumption is not refined or based on the knowledge of the perfect fried chicken technique – no - it is much more primal. If fried chicken is put in front of me I automatically react as if starvation is on the way and I must eat everything in preparation. The famine never comes - of course – just more chicken but all of this chicken news got me pondering why I’ve always loved it?
Friend chicken and I go way back. I have this memory, that may be real or not, of me in a dark wood highchair, wearing a bib and eating the small pieces placed in front of me with my fingers. I don’t remember the taste but I do remember not being able to stop. I had found my crack and the seductive hand of addiction took hold. From that day forward every birthday and any other occasion where I got to choose the menu it was chicken.
Fried chicken has had such an impact on my life that one of my strongest adolescent memories is of me driving through the Red Barn drive-through (on my bike) and enjoying the meals by the loading dock. Yes, I ate fast food fried chicken from a box while sitting on a loading dock (I’m waiting for the episode of Intervention where I see this scenario played out – I know its coming).
I have celebrated with chicken and drowned my sorrows in its crispy goodness. I remember feeling like a kindred soul mate to Liz Taylor when she was quoted saying Popeyes chicken was her favorite meal. See, even goddess superstars have friend chicken weaknesses. Chicken has been my friend, my lover, my companion and now it's popular. I can honestly say I was ahead of this trend. I have spent a lifetime appreciating this wonderful comfort food and I am happy the world is celebrating its praises – now lets eat!
1 comment:
It is one of the great sadnesses of my life here in New Jersey that nobody knows what jo-jos are. Every time I go home, my mom gets a whole bunch of them from Siciliano's and no one is allowed to share them with me. :-)
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