Yep, that was this writers reaction, too. You learn something new every day, and it turns out that the Granite State is the birthplace of a delectable dish straight from the heavens: chicken tenders. Or as we like to call them, chicken tendies.
You know em. You love em. You might have wanted to order a basket of tenders from the kids’ menu when you were out to eat as an adult. Heck, maybe you did, in which case we respect it.
According to USA Today, chicken tenders first came to be at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Epicentre goes on to say that some people don’t believe the restaurant invented the famous dish in 1974, even though the restaurant says it did. Even though the term may have come from the Puritan Backroom, chicken tenders may have been served in other restaurants with a different name before that.
Whatever the case, if you want to check out what could likely be the birthplace of the chicken tender, the Puritan Backroom offers an assortment of tendies like regular, buffalo, coconut, spicy, and broiled. Besides chicken dishes, the restaurant also has burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza, and more. You can look at their menu here.
In the meantime, here are some other places in the Granite State to enjoy some pretty killer chicken tendies.
The chicken tender – that tasty, crispy, boneless strip of breaded chicken breast – has an origin story shrouded in mystery With its kid-friendly appeal and adaptability, the humble chicken tender has taken over restaurant menus across America But who exactly invented this iconic dish, and how did it become so popular?
As a chicken tender mega-fan on a mission to uncover the truth, I dug into the murky history of this ubiquitous finger food. My research uncovered conflicting claims, unsubstantiated myths, and questionable chicken lore. Was the chicken tender born in a corporate test kitchen or a small-town restaurant? Does any one chef deserve credit? Let’s pluck apart the mystery of the chicken tender.
The Puritan Backroom Stakes Their Claim
The most common story credits the invention of the chicken tender to the Puritan Backroom restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1974. According to the owners, the Demetriades family wanted to make use of trim pieces of quality chicken breast. So they marinated, breaded and fried the tenderloins to create their signature dish: the “Chicken Finger”.
The Puritan Backroom says their dish is unique because no one else is serving these tasty pieces of real breast meat. Even though fried chicken has been around for a long time, focusing on the thin tenderloin was a new idea. The idea of “Chicken Finger” quickly spread across the country. The humble tender became a main course at The Puritan Backroom, which is proud of its accomplishment.
Challengers to the Chicken Crown
Not so fast, says Savannah, Georgia. The Pizza Galley at Spanky’s People in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, say that Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane, invented the chicken tender in the 1990s.
Up north, the family behind Mussari’s Motel and Restaurant in Pennsylvania insists they served up “french-fried chicken fingers” back in 1966. Can they all really lay claim to inventing this famous dish? It seems everyone wants a piece of chicken tender history
Before the Tenderloin Was King
Digging further back, I discovered some early chicken tender references that predate the 1970s claims. A 1909 South Carolina newspaper includes “chicken fingers” in a recipe round-up. Though no frying instructions are given, the name appears well before the supposed origin stories.
Even more shockingly, a 1952 St. Louis recipe calls these “chicken fingers,” which are really just deep-fried chicken pot pie. I learned that “chicken fingers” didn’t always mean breaded meat strips after this scary discovery. The phrase has changed meaning over the decades.
The Fuzzy Origins of a Simple Pleasure
It’s hard to figure out where the chicken tender came from because there are so many unofficial recipes and rumors that can’t be trusted. Too many chefs are trying to win the same prize. Will we ever find the real original chicken tender?
Maybe pinpointing the absolute first is impossible – and unimportant. The chicken tender likely evolved organically from earlier recipes for fried chicken parts and nuggets. Its simplicity and mild flavor profile gave the tender mass appeal. Regional restaurants put their own spin on a basic concept until it became the menu staple we know today.
The chicken tender origin may remain murky, but its popularity is crystal clear. This humble boneless strip transcends its hazy roots as a pop culture icon. The story of the chicken tender is the story of American comfort food – humble local fare transformed through innovation into a universally loved menu item. Its legend continues to grow.
These Are the Best Places to Get Chicken Tenders in New HampshireYeah, we know a thing or two about chicken tenders in New Hampshire! They were invented in our fine state after all! Here are some the best places to get this delicious crowd pleasing comfort food in the Granite State.
Gallery Credit: Kira Lew
And of course, whats a basket of chicken tenders without fries?
Your Picks For the Best French Fries in New Hampshire
Gallery Credit: Ginny Rogers
How Chicken Tenders Made Him A Millionaire
FAQ
Where were Chicken Tenders made?
Chicken tenders were first made at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1974. Charlie Pappas saved chicken pieces that had been cut off of bigger pieces of chicken and marinated and fried them to make chicken tenders.
Who invented chicken tenders?
Some call it chicken tenders, others call it chicken strips, chicken fingers, chicken tempura, or chicken goujons. Because of this, tracing its roots can be quite a challenge. A Manchester, New Hampshire restaurant called The Puritan Backroom, they invented chicken tenders in 1974. However, lots of experts argue against the claim.
What is a chicken tender?
Chicken tenders (also known as chicken goujons, tendies, chicken strips, chicken fingers, or chicken fillets) [citation needed] are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the bird. These strips of white meat are under the breast meat (pectoralis major) on both sides of the breastbone.
When did fried chicken become a popular finger food?
And since chicken tenders are made from the cast-off parts of this area, chicken producers pushed for the consumption of fried chicken fingers/strips/tenders. This was during the late 1980s to early 1990s. From then on, this dish became popular as finger food.
Why do people eat fried chicken tenders?
When people got scared of eating red meat, chicken breasts became the most popular protein source alternatives. And since chicken tenders are made from the cast-off parts of this area, chicken producers pushed for the consumption of fried chicken fingers/strips/tenders. This was during the late 1980s to early 1990s.
How are chicken tenders prepared?
Coating chicken meat in a breading mix and then deep-frying it is how chicken tenders are made, which is similar to how schnitzel is made. People all over the United States eat them every day because they are so easy to make and are a popular snack or main dish.
Who invented the first chicken tender?
He says Charlie Pappas invented the tender in 1974 to salvage pieces of chicken that were being thrown away.
Where does the chicken tender come from?
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken tenderloins, come from a specific muscle in the chicken called the pectoralis minor. This muscle is located underneath the chicken breast (pectoralis major) and is known for its tenderness.
Did the Puritan Backroom invent chicken tenders?
… the restaurant serves Greek-influenced New England cuisine and is known for their mudslides and for chicken tenders, which they claim to have invented in 1974
What was America’s first chicken finger joint?
The first chain of American restaurants to focus on chicken fingers was Guthrie’s, which opened in 1978 (and which would later inspire Raising Cane’s, which …Oct 27, 2021