DALLAS — Hot chicken is, well, hot.
Not just spicy hot. Popular hot.
So popular, in fact, the menu at a Dallas restaurant caught the eye of one of the biggest names in the food industry.
On Friday, Guy Fieri and his Food Network show, "Diners Drive-ins and Dives," will feature food from Palmer’s in Dallas.... kind of.
Fieri didn’t actually come to Palmer’s. He went to an identical spot in Georgia called Porch.
“Same exact restaurant just different names," said Palmer Fortune, owner of both restaurants.
Both places have the same décor, theme and most importantly, both serve the same food.
After catching wind of the restaurants, Fieri’s team reached out to Fortune to see if he’d be interested in being on the show.
“My first thought is, 'This is some kind of scam,'” said Fortune.
He responded anyway and realized it was the real deal.
After hours of filming, he felt the same way about Fieri.
“Guy was very knowledgeable,” Fortune said. “He knows what he’s talking about.”
So what got the Mayor of Flavortown’s vote?
“The motherclucker sandwich,” Fortune said.
The almost-too-hot-for-TV-named sandwich is stacked with hot chicken, house made pimento cheese and pickles.
Fieri also tried smothered tots, collard greens and fried gulf shrimp.
Interested in eating the same thing? It’s all on the menu at Palmer’s.
“The things he tried on the show we’re going to have a menu item for it,” Fortune said.
Before Friday’s episode, Palmer’s is hosting a watch party, full of food, fun and Fieri. The party starts at 6 p.m. and the episode airs at 8.
Fortune is confident it’ll be a hit.
“Confident in the food,” Fortune said. “I’m not confident in me on camera.”
Either way, if you watch and feel a flutter in your stomach, don’t worry. It’s just the chicken calling.
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