Indiana

[calimac]

I'd like to say a few words in praise of Indiana. Indiana is a much-criticized state, and often justly so. It is, after all, the state whose state song is "If I Knew You Were Gay, I Wouldn't Have Baked A Cake."

But it has its virtues, even culinary ones. I would designate Louisiana as the greatest eating state in the union, but everyone knows about Louisiana cuisine. What Indiana is, is the most underrated eating state in the union.

The best ribs I've ever had were in a small town in northern Indiana. The best fried chicken I've ever had was likewise in a small town (a different one) in northern Indiana. Who would have guessed, before you tried it? I have just driven ... to a great length ... for another opportunity to have a bite at that chicken, and it was as good as I remembered it. I've done likewise for the ribs on other occasions.

And if you say, "That must have been some chicken" or some ribs, you're dashed well right it was.

Comments

[irontongue.livejournal.com]

A local restaurant has a great friend chicken - it's breaded in a Japanese style and has amazing texture and flavor, also the chicken is perfectly cooked. They have a terrific fry cook. We split an order of it at lunch yesterday and were very, very happy with it. The hot sauce is also great.

This is at Hopscotch, where $18 gets you half a chicken.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

At $18 a half, it also had better be some fried chicken.

Well, I'll try it next time I'm up there. I do like panko when it's done well, which it usually isn't.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I got to Hopscotch today. It was interesting, especially the seasoning, but it left me with no urge to return.

[irontongue.livejournal.com]

In the Bay Area, whose fried chicken do you particularly like?

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I don't.

It's a remarkable thing, that despite our magnificent array of every kind of Asian cuisine imaginable, our fine tradition of Italian, etc., for regional American cuisines other than our own this area is a cultural desert. There is no fried chicken better than Popeyes or Church's (both of which I think are OK), there is very little Louisiana worthy of the name, and there is absolutely no good barbecue: the things people praise are ghastly. If you want good barbecue in California you have to head out to Sacramento or Modesto.