In the heart of southeast Kansas, the small city of Pittsburg in Crawford County is not just known for its rich mining history and vibrant college-town atmosphere; it is also a culinary hotspot for one of America’s most cherished comfort foods: fried chicken. This popular dish has deep roots in the region, influenced by a blend of cultural traditions and family recipes passed down through generations.

I had heard that The Mall Deli in Pittsburg, Kansas was a spot to grab some good food. It’s been in business since 1979 and I begged Chris with Explore Crawford County to show me the way.

It’s a story that dates back to 1934. It’s been featured by The New Yorker magazine, Travel Channel’s “Food Wars”, BBC Travel, among others. Now, the cluster of fried chicken houses in Crawford County in Southeast Kansas has inspired a fictional novel recently named Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club pick of the month and a New York Time’s Best Seller.

About a year ago, I stumbled upon the book The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia as I looked for novels for my summer reading. The more I read, the more I knew I had to read this book. The setting of the book, two fried chicken restaurants in Merinac, Kansas, caught my eye. You see, we live about 45 minutes from two fried chicken restaurants, Chicken Annie’s and Chicken Mary’s, that sit right next door to each other near a small town in Southeast Kansas named Frontenac.