Fried Chicken

We spent a long time talking about this show. Well over a year. Should we do one? Shouldn’t we? I mean, fried chicken in the South is very touchy, feely. People tend to get bent out of shape when you admit to liking something they don’t like or don’t mention some they enjoy. Fried Chicken, BBQ, Burgers, and Wings, we have found, are the kinds of foods, not just in the South but anywhere that you aren’t going to make everyone happy. This is our list of spots you may not have heard of but will enjoy for different reasons. That was our approach in this show. Nothing more nothing less. Is there a ton of fried chicken out there that we didn’t get to? Of course. In order of appearance…

Li’l Chick., Savannah, GA:  Li’l Chick doesn’t have a website. Surprises me, frankly, that they even have a phone. This is no frills, no pretense at all fried chicken and frozen french fries. You can always enjoy livers or gizzards, as well.  The fried chicken is good. Very good. They can take huge orders by phone for your next party. Hey, if it’s good enough for Gulfstream and International Paper retirement parties, then it should be good enough for you.  Open 9:30am-4:30pm.

Ruby Lee’s, Hilton Head Island:  This was a real treat. Ruby Lee’s is, as of this writing, not open for lunch. They are a dinner spot. A bit on the high end side. The menu is extensive, but it’s soul food. No question. Fried chicken is the biggest seller, as is the Ox Tail stew. There’s a night club type of feel in here, live music and dancing. Oh, and the food is delicious. There is some talk about them opening for lunch.

Annie O’s, Hilton Head Island:  I loved this place for a bunch of reasons. Tom Eggerton is a fine dining chef by nature. But he wants to do casual, comfortable food. So, like so many other chefs out there, he does “elevated” comfort food.  Not fancy. Unless you consider a crab and spinach omlette fancy. Not at all. It’s creative and fun. But still a diner type of feel in here. The fried chicken is wonderful, a Texas Pete type of hot sauce bit in there, but it’s the boneless chicken sausage gravy biscuit that made my day. A meal for a king.

Smith’s Fried Chicken, Vidalia, GA:  Again, no website. Smith’s is a throwback to the chicken shacks of yesteryear. Beverly Latimer is the owner along with her husband. She says that kids these days eat out so much because no one teaches them how to cook. That would include fried chicken, “Bless their hearts.”  Loved their chicken. My favorite in the show. Made in a 50 year old pressure cooker friers. So incredibly crisp and juicy.

Some others:

The Olde Pink House has a buttermilk marinated fried chicken breast with potatoes and greens that is as good as anything I have had anywhere.  Find it amusing that I’d go to the Pink House and have fried chicken? Try it, then make fun of me. It is incredible.

Lady and Sons, Mrs. Wilkes, and Sisters. All three of these places have great fried chicken. I laugh at people that tell me their grandmother’s chicken is better than Paula Deens’. Ok, well guess what? When your grandmother opens a restaurant, we’ll all go down there and support her. Deal?

Grocery Store Fried Chicken

There was a fried chicken contest once upon a time in Savannah. It was called Chikenov. People would bring fried chicken from here, there and everywhere. Sometimes it was a church group that would win, other times, believe it or not, a grocery store would make it down to the wire and one year, it even won. Who was it? Piggly Wiggly (Now Bi-Lo). With that in mind, here is how I rank the Savannah area’s grocery store fried chicken.

1. Bi-Lo (Formerly Piggly Wiggly):  Full disclosure, the last time I had it, it wasn’t that good. Assuming that was the exception, not the norm. Every other time it has been nothing short of exceptional.

2. Kroger:  If Bi-Lo isn’t getting it done? Kroger fried chicken is dreamy. No problem going with that.

3. Parkers Markets:  Gas station yes, but they also sell milk, ice cream, and potato chips. I’ll cut them a break. Great fried chicken here.

4. Publix:  Some people love it. I’m not a huge fan. I’ll eat it in a pinch, but I don’t like to be pinched.

See you on TV.

Jesse