Memphis
You know what heals a broken heart? Fried chicken. You know who makes incredible fried chicken? The good people of Memphis, Tennessee.
Now, these two things were never really meant to coincide, but they did. Such is a nomadic and chaotic life. Maybe it made me appreciate it that much more. Anyway, broken heart or not, I had tickets to Memphis in May BBQ World Championships and a lot of eating to do. I didn't know a ton about the festival when I booked the tickets. I had assumed you buy a ticket and then you eat the worlds best BBQ...not the case. We walked in and soon found out that the competitors can't actually serve food to the public. We stumbled in to a random tent and met a very nice man who gave us the scoop. They can't serve food but if you are lucky enough to buddy up to someone competing they might just give you a taste of what they've been working on. Challenge accepted. We drank, we mingled, we made small talk and eventually it paid off. We ended up meeting the good people of Gibson's BBQ. They are from Alabama, they are what make the words "southern hospitality" a very real thing. We ate the best pork shoulder I've ever tasted, learned what "white sauce" was and drank cold beer. Not bad huh? These are the moments that make it all worth it. Traveling full time can be exhausting, heart breaking and the most liberating thing you'll ever do. The highs are so very high, the lows the same.
Back to the star of the show, fried chicken, my god I love it. I grew up in the midwest and it wasn't really a "thing" in my household. My gluten free mother opted for boneless skinless baked chicken breasts instead. I am thankful for her health conscience ways and so is my waistline but I missed out. Fried chicken for me isn't nostalgic, it's pure comfort. I've only discovered how good it can be in my adult life. I thought I had tried some of the best, I was so wrong. Enter, Gus's World Famous Hot and Spicy Fried Chicken. It's spicy but not painful and so, so very crispy. It filled the hole in my heart so very well. I've never read or watched Eat. Pray. Love. but I'm going to assume these moments are what she was after. Pure greasy happiness.
xx
J
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