It was the biggest break of my career to date when I took on the job as Executive Chef of Louie’s Backyard in Key West in June of 1985. The ownership was divided and that is always tricky. The guy who hired me was at odds with one of the others. Another owner insisted that I keep a salad that had been on the menu with the previous chef. It was called the “Steak Salad” and it was a big seller to be sure. I was not going to have some other chef’s dishes on my menu. So I presented a “Hot Fried Chicken Salad” the next night. Years passed and my career rolled into new places. After 17 years from that salad’s debut I went back to Key West to see the spot where I debuted this dish. The “Hot Fried” was still on the menu.

Read The Origins of Hot Fried Chicken Salad