Fried Chicken is my Kryptonite

Fried Chicken is my kryptonite.   For whatever reason, the crispy-salty-peppery-richness of fried chicken gets me every single time.    My Grandmother prepared fried chicken for me as a kid and for the majority of my cooking career, it's been my quiet ace.   Whenever I need a dish that I can prepare with my eyes closed and half-conscious, Imogene’s fried chicken has always been there for me.  As I age, I often wonder if I’m somehow channeling my Grandmother's love for me (and my countless cousins) whenever I prepare it.   It's that good.   It’s THAT tied into my memory.   It will forever take me to the place of summer picnics, running endlessly on some sugary soda and grabbing a piece of fried chicken as I run for another game of flashlight tag, ghosts in the graveyard or bellybutton with my cousins.  

Good fried chicken can cover all of the bases for a diner; it's sophisticated, yet simple.  It's considered accessible, yet its complexity can span any restaurant worth its salt.   It is adored all across America and resonates with diners from all demographics.   In short, it's iconic.   Previous to filming this segment, fried chicken and the traditional accompaniments never made me question American history or my place in it, but that’s why these stories are so important to share. 

A trip to Appleton to visit the Cozzy Corner had been on our radar for a few years- after all, it's hard to pass up a soul food restaurant in Wisconsin, especially one that is known for its fried chicken.  Now, as a disclaimer, this isn’t BBQ.   THIS IS SOUL FOOD ( BBQ is another type of soul food-more on that in the future).  It's made with love, with care and with thought.  

Owners Phillip and Heidi Bennet welcomed us into their restaurant in downtown Appleton eagerly and with smiles.   Immediately, we felt welcome.   Soul food has that effect on people- the energy in the restaurant resonated with their love for the food, their story, their struggles and triumphs as humans in this place and time.   Soul food, at its best, catches us and lifts us up.   It opens our hearts as it fills our rumbling bellies- and without a doubt, it carries a story much older than Phillip and Heidi’s bright faces project.

Until next time, 

FOREVER FORWARD!

Luke