When it comes to food, there's a lot of staunchly held opinions that are based primarily on a lot of pomp and objective beliefs and interpretations about the way things ought to be... and, well, that's life- much like politics, or religion, when someone has their view they're pretty much stuck on it whether you can present any or all the evidence to the contrary. Often times, these are harmless points of disagreement with little severity to their implications... though, there are those hotly contested points of vehement argument, like the presence of pineapple on pizza, whether ketchup actually belongs on hot dogs or is an abomination, or more philosophically whether a hot dog is actually a sort of sandwich. Well, friends, I'm here to hit you with a certainty that may ruffle some feathers but is, without any shade of doubt or degree of dithering, a statement of true fact and not simply a matter of one girl's opinion. Want to know what that universal, inarguable truth of life, the universe, and everything is? Grab onto your buttcheeks and hang on tight, kiddos, because here it is:
Korean fried chicken is infinitely superior to American fried chicken
(whether originating somewhere near Kentucky or not).
Leave it to South Korea, no less. South Korea, of all places, might at first glance seem an unlikely place for fried chicken to reach the pinnacle of perfection, but upon further consideration, it makes perfect sense. After the Korean war came to a tentative ceasefire in 1953 and American troops were already enmeshed in the country, their desire for a classic comfort food would lead to some experimentation and the introduction of the food to the locals. South Korea as a whole built itself up from pandemic starvation level poverty after the decimation of warfare and became a technological and economic wonder through sheer perseverance and innovation in the time since. Is there any doubt they'd find a way to improve on something already so crispy and delicious?
Mom's Touch is a Korean chain serving up their signature New Orleans style crispy fried chicken hot and fresh throughout South Korea. I was blessed to have one within a very short walk of where I was staying, and were I not trying to be conscientious of my health and weight may have frequented there more than is remotely reasonable. Each order is made fresh after you put it in, so the chicken is exceptionally juicy and exceedingly delicious, every single time. And by god, is it addictive! You can get powdered seasonings, much like the seasoning on potato chips that similarly gets stuck to the pads of your fingers as you voraciously gnaw your way through crispy chicken carcasses, but you can also opt for a sauce or naked goodness.
And trust me, once you try it, you won't argue the superior form of bird, whether you like it powdered, drenched or dry. You might find yourself fiending for a little taste of Mom's Touch, too...
