NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville hot chicken may soon be added to the list of official state foods in Tennessee.
Nashville lawmakers have filed a bill that would designate the spicy culinary concoction as an official state food.
Filed in the House by Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville) and the Senate by Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville), the bill adds Nashville hot chicken to the same status as last year’s hot slaw bill, making it the third official state food in Tennessee.
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During a House committee hearing on Monday, Hemmer said he was “surprised to learn” the state only has two official state foods—Memphis barbecue and hot slaw—thus prompting local lawmakers to act to give Nashville hot chicken its due.
“It’s part of our rich, cultural history, and I could not believe that we have not already recognized,” Hemmer told News 2.
Nashville hot chicken traces its origins back to the 1930s with Prince’s, Hemmer said, and the popularity of the dish has grown to international acclaim.
“You can’t go to a city without seeing ‘Nashville hot chicken’ on a menu all around the country and the world. We think this is something that we want to highlight and something we should have been doing a long time ago,” Hemmer told News 2.
Of course, Nashville is plentiful with places to procure hot chicken, including the famed Prince’s and Hattie B’s. You can also find hot chicken varieties at places like Chicken Shack Express, Party Fowl, Hurt’s Hot Chicken, Slow Burn, Nashville Chicken & Waffles, Momma Joy’s Hot Chicken + More, and even KFC or Chili’s.
The bill easily passed a House committee Monday, Feb. 24, and will have more committee stops before being heard on the House floor.
As for his favorite place to grab a dish, Hemmer said neither Prince’s nor Hattie B’s are bad choices. though Hattie B’s is in his district.
The bill also has a “companion” by Rep. Vincent Dixie, according to Hemmer, which designates Nashville as the hot chicken capital of Tennessee.
