The Birthplace of KFC

photo courtesy of J Steven Conn
(http://local.msn.com/slideshow/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=31257880)

Harland Sanders, born in 1890 outside Henryville, IN, opened his first restaurant in Corbin, KY, in 1930. The restaurant, situated in the front room of a gas station, was called Sanders Court & Café. One of its most popular dishes was fried chicken. In 1936, Kentucky's governor made Sanders an honorary Kentucky colonel in recognition of his contributions to the state's cuisine.

(http://local.msn.com/slideshow/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=31257880)

My first encounter with a KFC restaurant was in downtown Bucharest: a large place, elegantly furnished, with images from New York hanging on the walls. I immediately became passionate for their fried chickens and the Coleslaw salad. It was much later that I started to think about healthy food, as the doctors began to persuade me about cholesterol and stuff. Still I enjoy fried chickens.


In 1969, the Sanders motel and gas station were demolished. However, in 1990, the Café was restored to its original appearance and now sells KFC fare and acts as a museum. It has recreated the old kitchen, a motel room, Sanders' office, and displays of advertising and other historical items.

(http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/kfc.html)

My second encounter with a KFC restaurant was in Staten Island. The place was in the same time KFC and Taco Bell (I would say more Taco Bell).

But only when I moved to Virginia I realized that the fried chickens of Colonel Sanders were belonging to the universe of the South.


In 1952 Col. Sanders began franchising his restaurants; Pete Harman of Salt Lake City, UT, became the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisee.

(http://local.msn.com/slideshow/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=31257880)

Harman Café, at its beginnings
(http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/kfc.html)

By the end of the 1950's more than 200 Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets were operating in the United States and Canada.

(http://local.msn.com/slideshow/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=31257880)

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And just a few words about J Steven Conn, the owner of the photo on top of this blogpost: he is a writer and a semi-retired clergyman, passionate for travel and history, who loves blogging about his endeavors and his findings. He visited 57 countries, and all 50 American states.

(http://www.flickr.com/people/jstephenconn/)

(America viewed by Americans)