Nashville Hot Chicken…You Heard it Here First But You Refused to Eat It!

Nashville hot chicken is the latest food rage. Once relegated to the inner city of Nashville, it has now made it the world stage, or at least the southeastern USA! Nashville hot chicken…Nashville hot chicken…Nashville hot chicken…yes, that name sounds familiar. Where have I heard about that before?

Oh, right here in the Food For Thought column in your own East Metro Times. That’s right. For all of my dedicated readers, you may remember one of my past articles highlighted my trip to the home of this great delicacy, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack. Now the secret’s out. Everyone from a guy named Gus to Colonel Sanders wants in on the action.

For many locals who frequent Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ here in Conyers or any of their other 33 locations, you had a chance to experience the fire of the chicken, but alas, it just did not catch on and was removed from the menu at the next update. What I thought was the next big thing apparently was not. I was wrong! Now the world is beating a path to Nashville to see what all the fuss is about.

As the story goes, ole Uncle Thornton Prince III, a known womanizer, had been out late the night before, much to the dismay of his current girlfriend. To seek revenge, his said girlfriend concocted a hot rub of pepper to apply to his breakfast chicken. As is told, the plan backfired when he and his brother decided it was meant to be and the craze was born.

Now I am from Kentucky as you know. I am quite sure had this scenario played out in Corbin, KY back in 1930, and Harlan Sanders had come in late one night, Claudia Sanders would have whacked Harlan upside the head with an iron skillet. Thus the world would never know the pleasures of “finger lickin’ good” chicken. Funny how chance happenstances change the world!

So, as you continue to be bombarded by ads about Nashville hot chicken, don’t be suckered into thinking you are eating the real thing. Just like a KC strip steak has to come from Kansas City, a Philly cheese steak has to come from Philadelphia, a naked dog walking with a frosted orange has to come from The Varsity, and Bourbon has to come from Kentucky limestone water, you have to go to Prince’s to get the real deal!

Trust me on this!