Harold's Chicken Shack with Jacquis Neal

"Harold's Chicken Shack with Jacquis Neal" is Episode 234 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Harold's Chicken Shack with Jacquis Neal" was released on January 16, 2020.

## Synopsis

Actor/comedian Jacquis Neal (UCB, *Culture Kings* podcast) joins the boys to discuss cruise ship food and review Chicago's famed Harold's Chicken Shack. Plus, a new edition of Chips Inhale: Res-Chew Rangers, and a surprise drop-in from a special ghost!

## Nick's intro

Chicago food is often compartmentalized as topping-loaded hot dogs, casserole-thick pizza, and sopping-wet beef sandwiches, but just as much a part of the Second City's culinary identity comes via a chain of eponymous fried-chicken shacks founded in 1950 by Harold Pierce in the historically black South Side neighborhood.

Pierce had a leg up on his competition by using a mixture of beef tallow and vegetable oil as cooking liquid and by employing the time- and labor-intensive practice of frying to order, a practice that continues to this day. His mild sauce-dowsed, breaded bird met a salivating audience and, recognizing the predominantly black areas ignored by the big players in the fast-food boom, Pierce savvily expanded within the South Side, becoming a neighborhood, and later a citywide, institution.

As his chain became a financial success, Pierce acquired an unmistakable vehicle: a white Cadillac fashioned to look like a chicken, complete with a papier-mâché'd chicken head, which contrasted with his understated, mild manner.

Pierce passed away in 1988, but the business remained a family one; today, operated by his daughter, Kristin Pierce-Herron. And its imprint on the South Side of Chicago is indelible. Much like Fatburger in LA hiphop, the chain became a go-to reference for Chicago area rappers. Chance the Rapper, Common, Kanye, and Kendrick Lamar are among those who have given a shout-out to the eatery in their verses.

And in a 2008 *60 Minutes* interview, reflecting on Barack Obama's old apartment on the South Side, Michelle Obama remarked, "that was a dump," to which the soon-to-be-President replied, "oh come on, it wasn't that bad. I lived right next door to a Harold's."

This week on *Doughboys*: Harold's Chicken Shack.

## Fork rating

* 2 Catfish & 3 Wings Combo Dinner
 Mike Mitchell
* 1/2 White Chicken Dinner
 Jacquis Neal
 shared
* Mac N Cheese
* Fried Okra
* Pizza Puff

All dinners at Harold's come with fries and coleslaw, but it seems that none of them received their coleslaw.

With these scores, Harold's Chicken Shack makes the Golden Plate Club!

## Chips Inhale: Res-Chew Rangers

In Chips Inhale: Res-Chew Rangers, The Doughboys get a bunch of flavors of chips, and they eat them all.

However, for this episode, they just try one flavor, as Mitch brings Keogh's, an Irish brand of chips. There are a lot of different and interesting flavors of Keogh's; they have Irish Atlantic Sea Salt.

Mitch and Nick liked them, but Jacquis and producer Marissa were mixed.

 Mike Mitchell
 Jacquis Neal
 Marissa

## Related Episodes

* DD. Water 2: Ice

## Photos

LemonadeFried Okra2 Catfish & 3 Wings DinnerBroccoli & Cheese Bites6 Chicken Wings DinnerMac N CheesePizza Puff