NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Most folks know Memphis for its barbecue and Philly for its cheesesteaks, but how about Nashville and its hot chicken?
If you’re not sure, you’ve never tried this fried chicken so fiery it will leave your mouth in shock. It’s a flavor you don’t soon forget.
Born as cheap, flavorful fare for Nashville’s working class community and offered late into the night for its party-goers, hot chicken has long been a staple in town. But its reputation has grown in recent years. Taylor Swift and B.o.B. even featured one of the city’s best known hot chicken shops in a video they did together.
At heart, it’s fried chicken that gets finished with a potent — and nearly always secret — blend of dry, peppery seasonings (paprika and cayenne are common, though that’s just the start). But that oversimplifies things.