Sophie Bennett
Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's are two famous fried chicken restaurants in Pittsburg, Kansas, that have been rivals for generations. The restaurants were founded by two widows, Annie Pichler and Mary Zerngast, who lived next door to each other and began selling fried chicken from their homes. The rivalry between the two restaurants has been featured on TV shows such as the Travel Channel's Food Wars, which held a blind taste test to determine the best fried chicken. While Chicken Mary's was declared the winner of the Food Wars episode, the debate about which restaurant is better continues to rage on, with many loyal fans on both sides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 March 2010 |
| TV Show | Travel Channel's "Food Wars" |
| Episode Title | Kansas Fried Chicken War |
| Host | Camille Ford |
| Location | Pittsburg, Kansas |
| Restaurants | Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's |
| Winner | Chicken Mary's |
| Score | 3-2 |
| Preparation Style | Annie's uses simple breadcrumbs; Mary's uses flour to make the crust thinner and crispier |
| Popularity | Chicken Annie's was more popular in the Nevada Daily Mail office polls |
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What You'll Learn
The fried chicken war
In 2010, the Travel Channel's "Food Wars" featured the two restaurants in an episode, pitting them against each other in a blind taste test. The episode was hosted by Camille Ford, who visited "chicken dinner road" in Pittsburg, Kansas, where the two restaurants are located side by side, just 600 feet apart. The judges chose Chicken Mary's chicken by a decision of 3 to 2, delighting Chicken Mary's fans. However, the competition did not settle the debate, and people in Kansas still remain split over which restaurant serves the best fried chicken.
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Chicken Annie's
In addition to fried chicken, the restaurant serves German potato salad, German coleslaw, spaghetti, and onion rings. The restaurant also offers catering services and has a carry-out option. Chicken Annie's has received praise for its food, service, and atmosphere, with people travelling from far and wide to dine there.
In 2010, the Travel Channel's show Food Wars featured a blind taste test between Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's to determine the best fried chicken in Pittsburg, Kansas. The judges chose Chicken Mary's chicken by a decision of 3 to 2, but polls conducted by the Nevada Daily Mail suggested that Chicken Annie's was more popular among respondents.
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Chicken Mary's
The Zerngasts cleared out the furniture in their living room and set up tables for diners, just like their neighbours and rivals, Chicken Annie's. Diners would often stay late into the night, dancing and eating fried chicken. Chicken Mary's got its name from the locals who would pound on the door in the middle of the night, shouting, "Chicken, Mary! Chicken, Mary!". Mary would then fry chicken for them until dawn.
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Fried chicken in Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg, Kansas, is known for its fried chicken, with Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's being the most famous purveyors. The two restaurants have a storied history, with a rivalry that dates back generations.
Chicken Annie's was started by Annie Pichler, who began by wringing the necks of free-range chickens in her yard and frying them. The name was suggested to her by a local doctor and fan of her cooking. Annie's chicken became so popular that diners would stay and dance until the early hours of the morning. As the business grew, Annie and her family moved to a new location to devote their former home solely to the restaurant.
Chicken Mary's was started by Mary Zerngast, Annie's neighbour, a few years later. Mary's husband worked in the mines but was forced to stop due to "black lung", leaving Mary to provide for the family. She began frying the chickens in her yard and selling fried chicken dinners with potato salad and coleslaw. Diners would often turn up in the middle of the night, pounding on the door and shouting, "Chicken, Mary! Chicken, Mary!". Mary would fry chicken for them until dawn.
Both restaurants have similar styles of preparing the chicken, but with some key differences. Annie's uses an egg wash with simple breadcrumbs, while Mary's uses an egg wash with milk and adds flour to the breadcrumbs to make the crust thinner and crispier. The restaurants have expanded over the years, and can now seat about 300 people.
The rivalry between the two restaurants has endured for decades, with locals in the tight-knit community of Pittsburg having to pick a side. In 2010, the Travel Channel's show Food Wars attempted to settle the score with a blind taste test. The judges chose Chicken Mary's chicken by a margin of 3 to 2, but many locals remain split over which restaurant is best.
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Food Wars
Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's are two famous fried chicken restaurants in Pittsburg, Kansas. They are located side by side, less than 600 feet apart, and have been serving customers since the 1930s. The two restaurants were started by two women, Annie and Mary, who were widows of miners and began selling fried chicken to support themselves after their husbands' deaths. The restaurants' proximity and similar offerings led to a friendly rivalry, with locals in the tight-knit community picking sides.
The rivalry between Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's has even inspired a novel, "The Chicken Sisters" by KJ Dell'Antonia, which was a New York Times Best Seller and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. The book is a coming-of-age story of two sisters who have grown apart, inspired by the author's curiosity about the relationship between the two restaurants and the feuds between the area's chicken houses.
The Travel Channel's "Food Wars" featured Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's in an episode that aired in 2010. The show pits two famous institutions in a given city against each other in a blind taste test to declare a winner. In the episode, local judges were given a blind taste test to determine which chicken they preferred. The judges chose Chicken Mary's chicken by a vote of 3 to 2, delighting fans of the restaurant.
However, the debate about which restaurant is better continues to rage on. Some people prefer Chicken Annie's, citing the restaurant's friendly service and dedication to its customers. Others argue that Chicken Mary's has a better crust and offers more value for money. Ultimately, the choice between Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's comes down to personal preference, and both restaurants continue to have their loyal fans.
In conclusion, the famous fried chicken rivalry between Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's in Pittsburg, Kansas, has captured the attention of media, inspired a novel, and divided the community. While Chicken Mary's was declared the winner on "Food Wars", the debate about which restaurant is superior remains a matter of ongoing discussion and personal taste.
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Frequently asked questions
In a 3-2 decision, the judges on the Travel Channel's "Food Wars" chose Chicken Mary's.
The competition involved a blind taste test judged by locals from Pittsburg, Kansas, where both restaurants are located.
The judges based their decision on the taste of the fried chicken, with Chicken Mary's receiving more votes for having a thinner and crispier crust.
The public's reaction was mixed. Chicken Mary's fans were delighted, while Chicken Annie's supporters were likely disappointed. Some local polls conducted by the Nevada Daily Mail showed that Chicken Annie's was more popular before the show aired.
