Your Recipe for the Week:

(pic taken without shame from one of the greats of the blog-world, http://fatrobot.blogspot.com/)

Piss on KFC, one of the true great places in the USA to eat. Yes, you heard it here, Gus’s Fried Chicken in my favorite city, Memphis, Tennessee. Brothers and sisters, you can do no wrong by stopping by here on any trip through the mid-south. It's a Down Home Chicken Shack and damn good chicken is what you will get. Get a quart of beer, cause’ you’r going to wait a bit, but you will know it was worth it.

GUS’S FRIED CHICKEN
1 (3-1/2 lb.) chicken, rinsed, cut into 8 pieces
1 quart buttermilk
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more if your like me)
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper (generous amount)
Peanut oil for frying ...

-- Trim the excess fat and skin from chicken pieces (but don't remove all the skin).

-- Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer in a non-reactive pan.

-- Pour buttermilk over chicken and toss to make sure each piece is well coated.

-- Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

-- Combine flour, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper (at Gus', it's a little heavy on the pepper) in a large plastic bag.

-- Drop chicken pieces into the bag, one at a time, and shake until well coated with flour mixture.

-- Pour oil in a large cast iron skillet. (At Gus', it's a deep skillet for deep frying.)

-- Heat oil until it's hot but not smoking.

-- Add chicken, the largest pieces first, skin side down.

-- Work in batches, if necessary.

-- Reduce heat to medium.

-- Cook, turning once, 12-15 minutes per side. (At Gus', chicken is done when it floats to the top.)

-- Drain and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken is located at 520 Highway 70 in Mason. Hours are typically 11a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday; 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Sunday. No credit cards are accepted, so bring cash or a local check. For more info, you can contact Gus’ original Mason, TN eatery at 901 294-2028. Gus’ also has a Downtown Memphis location at 310 S. Front Street. Their phone number is (901) 527-4877. Don’t forget to bring enough money for a Gus’ T-shirt, and some homemade Sweet Potato pie.

JQP