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Chicken and Waffles: from Amish Country to Harlem

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The delicious duo of crispy, golden fried chicken, perfectly seasoned and nestled atop a fluffy waffle, had to go through quite the journey before it became the iconic Southern comfort food that we all love today. Join us as we trace the roots of this American culinary masterpiece from the arrival of the first Pilgrims in the 1600s to the supper clubs of the Harlem Renaissance to a soul food restaurant chain in Hollywood. Follow along as we learn how this delicious pairing stood the test of time.

Thanks to Chef Geoff Davis, James Beard-nominated founder of Burdell Soul Food in Oakland, for sharing his story and showing us his take on chicken and waffles.

Subscribe to KQED Food’s YouTube channel to watch more Beyond The Menu videos.

Read more:
Chicken and Waffles: The Most Complete Expression of Southern Culinary Skill, Part 1
Chicken and Waffles: The Most Complete Expression of Southern Culinary Skill, Part 2
Well’s Restaurant In Harlem, The Best Chicken And Waffles In The World 1938-1982
REMEMBER: The Home of Chicken and Waffles
Roscoe’s House of Chicken’ n Waffles
Chef Geoff Davis
Tonya Hopkins
Howard Miller
William Woy Weaver
Andrew Lawler

About Beyond The Menu:
The story of the food on your plate is more than just the recipe. Each ingredient and every cooking technique goes back hundreds if not thousands of years, traversing the globe on a wildly delicious cross-cultural adventure. In KQED’s new digital food series Beyond The Menu, host Cecilia Phillips interviews chefs, authors, and other experts to dig up surprising facts on the cultural pathways of today’s trendiest dishes. It’s a history show, it’s a mystery series, it’s a celebration of multicultural cuisine, sometimes it’s even a science program, all set against the backdrop of mouth-watering food cinematography.

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