With the Popeye's chicken sandwich fiasco that has citizens losing their minds across the nation, local residents of Tennessee have been as cool as a cucumber and reveling in the greatness of their own chicken sandwich. Thanks to the African-American community of Nashville, the hot chicken sandwich has been booming since the 1930s. However, the current spice paste that is commonly applied to the chicken now, dates back to the 1970s.
After being properly soaked in a vat of buttermilk, the chicken is floured and seasoned using cayenne pepper and lard as main ingredients, pan-fried, and served atop a fluffy white bread bun with pickles to add a vinegary kick to the luscious sandwich. The sandwich and chicken have become such a hit, the city of Nashville holds festivals and competitions celebrating the tasty poultry. The chicken's unique red hue and spiciness are unique to the region and could be spotted by your average Tennessee patron from a mile away.