MAIN INGREDIENTS
The most popular food of the Southern cuisine, fried chicken is the theme of many arguments where everyone involved seems to have a favorite, be it what their mothers used to make, a cult roadside eatery, or a bygone restaurant. However, it is universally agreed that the meat must be moist, succulent, and tender, coated with a crunchy, golden-brown crust.
It all started during the colonization period, when Scottish immigrants settled in the South, bringing their fried chicken recipes along. The African slaves then introduced new seasonings and spices, and the dish quickly gained popularity. Typical seasonings include salt, pepper, and hot chiles, and the pieces of meat should be edible by hand so that the consumer can bite both the crust and the meat at the same time.
MOST ICONIC Fried Chicken
Traditionally associated with the American South (and Virginia in particular), the sweet chess pie consists of a thin pastry crust that is topped with a mixture of eggs, butter, vanilla, cornmeal, and various sweeteners. When baked, the filling turns into a thick, velvety custard, which is best complemented with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream.
Among numerous theories of the origin and the name of chess pies, the most reasonable one says that it evolved from the British cheese pie, a term formerly used to denote various pies with similar fillings as this Southern classic.
MOST ICONIC Chess Pie
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Chicken tenders is a dish of breaded and fried strips of chicken coming from the pectoralis minor, located underneath the chicken breast. The meat is more tender, and when properly prepared, it should be moist and more tender than chicken fingers, which are made from chicken breast.
Once coated in breadcrumbs, the tenders are deep-fried in hot oil. They can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or main course, and common accompaniments include dips such as mayonnaise, ketchup, ranch, honey mustard, and barbecue sauce. Chicken tenders are often served with french fries and coleslaw on the side.