Homemade Southern Fried Chicken

Saturday night’s comfort food treat was homemade Southern fried chicken with crispy chips and rich, warm gravy. There is something especially satisfying about crunchy chicken alongside golden chips, all finished with a generous pour of gravy.

It actually reminded me of poutine, the famous Canadian dish I am looking forward to enjoying during our trip to Canada. Poutine originated in Quebec in the late 1950s and traditionally combines French fries, fresh cheese curds and hot brown gravy. Its exact birthplace is still debated, with several Quebec restaurants of course claiming to have created it.

The biggest difference is the cheese: our Southern-style chips and gravy are wonderfully simple, while poutine gets its distinctive texture from fresh, squeaky cheese curds.