Celebrate Independence Day in style with foods like Nashville Hot Chicken, a local specialty and staple food for late-night diners! When people talk about Fourth of July, immediately patriotic attire, American flags, parades and fireworks come to mind. Families usually fire up the grill for an all-day barbecue or a potluck-style party on Independence Day. No matter what food you decide to pick, be sure to follow the food traditions of Independence Day and get something that is iconic, or for lack of a better word, American! If you want to ditch the old-fashioned American carhop burgers, and spice things up with more picturesque American staple food, we’ve got you covered. From tater tots to the epitome of comfort food – Nashville Hot Chicken, check out the list of Fourth of July Food below presented by Trailer Birds, along with their history and backstory! Get ready to celebrate this land of stars and stripes with a tasty feast followed by a food coma!
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Nashville Hot Chicken
The Origin & History
Dubbed as Music City, Nashville has been known as the mecca for country and bluegrass music but it’s also known for its cuisine, namely Nashville Hot Chicken. This succulent dish is now a symbol of many things born from its city Nashville, and like much of Southern barbecue and cuisine, it pays homage to the African American community. According to the anecdotal evidence, Nashville Hot Chicken has been served in Nashville’s African-American communities for many generations. The story behind this dish remains a fundamental part of hot chicken’s allure, especially when the story is about being in a tug of war between love and hate. Unlike Coca-Cola, the invention of Nashville style hot chicken was not a mistake or accident, but rather, was premeditated by a betrayed lover.
The story can be dated back to the 1930s when a man called Thornton Prince who was known as a serial philanderer, cheated on his girlfriend. As part of a revenge scheme, his girlfriend decided to douse his favorite fried chicken with cayenne peppers and mustard seed among other things. Needless to say, the revenge didn’t work out since he ended up falling harder for the over-spiced piece of chicken than he did for any mistress. An act of vengeance turned the premeditated revenge dish into a popular Nashville’s indigenous food.
What is Nashville Hot Chicken
Just like its backstory that’s an epitome of a punishment and a joy at the same time, Nashville style hot chicken boasts a complex flavor – a blend of undeniable burn with different layers of spice, and a touch of sweetness. It’s typically marinated in a water-based blend of seasoning then spiced with cayenne pepper. A classic Nashville style hot chicken boasts two key ingredients – lard and cayenne pepper and most restaurants put a twist on the classic dish by adding sugar, garlic or additional hot sauce. Whether you want some Nashville hot tenders, or some blazing hot chicken sandwiches, Trailer Birds has a heat level for you! Available for carryout and food delivery, Trailer Birds is the brainchild of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit’s culinary team.
Music City Hot Chicken Festival
It doesn’t come as a surprise that there’s an annual Nashville Hot Chicken Festival, given how much they take pride in their iconic dish. Hosted on July 4 at East Park, 700 Woodland St Nashville, the event brings together the local food vendors and foodies to celebrate the uniquely-Nashville dish. Looking for things to do with family? Head on over to this annual Nashville Hot Chicken Festival live music from local bands, amateur cooking competition, fire truck parade and free hot chicken samples! The event is sure to get your spice cravings fixed on American Independence Day. And here’s the kicker, admission is free! Get ready to celebrate Independence Day with flair and style!
Tater Tots
The Origin & History
One-third of food grown and produced on this planet will end up being tossed and sometimes the best invention comes from getting creative with the leftovers! Tater tots were originally invented by the Grigg Brother, who discovered the wonders of frozen dinners and wanted in on the action. The only problem was they didn’t know what to do with the excess potato scraps that came from making those frozen potato fries. The idea of reinventing the hard-earned leftovers into this succulent golden treat came to fruition at the most opportune time. They eventually took the leftover potatoes, mashed them together then turned them into little gems, then fried them in oil and flash froze them. That’s how tater tots were invented!
What is Tater Tot
We love French fries but if you want to stay true to your roots, especially on Independence Day, then consider the Tater Tot, known as the American food variation on the potato theme. Some may even argue tater tots are better than French fries: bite-sized, crispy and crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, savory, greasy but not as oily as French fries. Its delicate interior and pillowy texture are something French fries can never compete with. Statistics show that Americans consume 70 million pounds of tater tots which speaks volumes about the popularity of this American iconic dish. Trailer Birds, online food delivery offers crispy tater tots with a variety of flavors ranging from Nashville Hot Chicken, cajun, jalapeno cheese, you name it!