Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken with Ben Gruber

"Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken with Ben Gruber" is Episode 157 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken with Ben Gruber" was released on June 7, 2018.

## Synopsis

Writer/comedian Ben Gruber (*Monk*, *Teen Titans Go!*, *Little Big Awesome*) joins to discuss one of his favorite foods, fried chicken, as provided by beloved Memphis original Gus's. Gus and the 'boys [sic] discuss the deleterious digestive effects of spicy cuisine, and partake in another edition of Snack or Wack.

## Nick's Intro

On February 27, 1994, the NBA's Board of Governors approved a second Canadian expansion franchise to accompany previously-announced Toronto, and the Vancouver team known as the Grizzlies was born.

While commissioner David Stern was eager to extend pro basketball's reach into the Great White North, ominous signs were present from the beginning as the team failed to sell its required season-ticket quota before its inaugural year, being bailed out by Canadian pharmacy chain, Shoppers Drug Market, who bought up the remaining surplus. And in its early years, the team's apathetic reception by Vancouverite locals was only exacerbated by its roster miscues, as it drafted busts like the sluggish Bryant "Big Country" Reeves and the talented, but oft-injured, Shareef Abdur-Rahim. In 2001, amid underperformance in the standings, and more importantly, in fan attendance, new owner Michael Heisley abandoned Saltwater City and moved the franchise to the home of the blues, Memphis, Tennessee.

And so began the residency of the Memphis Grizzlies, another relocated team with a geographical non-sequitur of a name like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz. But also like the Lakers and Jazz, the Grizzlies would find success in their adopted home, developing its trademark grit-and-grind identity with the acquisition of players like Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley Jr., and Tony Allen. The team's bruising physical defense and throwback low-post offense, colloquially referred to as "old-man game" would propel them to a seven-year playoff run accompanied by raucous sell-out crowds that hit its peak in a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2013.

But long before it was known for its hoops fanaticism, Memphis was a hub of Southern cuisine.

In 1973, in nearby Vernon, Tennessee, Ms. Maggie Vanderbilt and her husband Na, opened a restaurant, Maggie's Short Order, that became famed for its fried chicken. In 1984, their son Gus used his parent's beloved recipe to open a breaded-bird-centric concept of his own. The younger Vanderbilt's restaurant was a local hit and after years of success, it launched its own expansion franchises, now with 25 locations slinging its signature spicy fried chicken and sides.

The chain has drawn praise from food celebs like Rachael Ray and Adam Richman, and also from sportswriter Lang Whitaker, who now works for the Memphis Grizzlies' organization, and who in *GQ* magazine declared it "the best fried chicken in the world."

Today on *Doughboys*, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken.

## Fork rating

* 2 Piece Dark
 Mike Mitchell
* 3 Piece White
 Ben Gruber
* 3 Piece White
 shared
* Fried Okra
* Baked Beans
* Cole Slaw
* Potato Salad
* Greens
* Seasoned Fries
* Mac & Cheese
* Pecan Pie
* Chocolate Chess Pie

With these scores, Gus's makes the Golden Plate Club!

## Snack or Wack

In Snack or Wack, The Doughboys have a snack and rate it either 'good' or 'bad.'

For this episode, they trytwo varieties of Reese's: the Snack Mix and the Peanut Butter Bites.

 Mike Mitchell
 Ben Gruber

Reese's Snack MixReese's Peanut Butter Bites

## Quotes

**Mitch:** I hope a duck hunter shoots you one day.

## #hashtags

* #WhenAreYouCreaming
* #PlansForSundae
* #IWantThoseNuts
* #SidePiece

## The Feedbag

I like to switch it up now and then from the standard mayo and mustard, but I feel pretty alone in my sentiments.

## Photos (via @doughboyspod)

Sweet Teas and LemonadeFried Green TomatoesFried OkraPotato Salad and Greens3 Piece White2 Piece DarkSeasoned FriesMac & CheesePecan Pie à la modeChocolate Chess Pie à la mode