Daily Archives: February 28, 2010

A chicken in every pot, that was Herbert Hoover’s campaign promise. He would bail the country out of the Depression and return it to prosperity. Only the rich ate chicken then. Diners complained restaurants served counterfeit chicken, veal. It’s hard to believe that every grocery store’s loss leader today was once synonymous with luxury.

Today’s factory farming has changed all that. Every month or two, somebody practically gives away whole body fryers just to get you in their store. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts sell for less than ground beef, and offer a palette to sketch a gallery of gourmet delights.

Bake them. Broil them. Barbecue them. Treat chickens as if they were still expensive and they will taste like they still are. Give up deep-fried and chicken-fried. Take a step beyond fast food, for a grown-up taste sensation.