Chicken Shack in Luverne, Alabama

I usually get up pretty early on weekends, get on my bike, and head out into the Alabama countryside before the temps get to the 100 degree mark. I head home around noon dealing with the life-sucking humidity and heat swirling around inside my helmet. In the interim. as I wander the beautiful backroads, I track down exotic food fare in equally exotic locales.

One such spot is the The Chicken Shack in Luverne. Luverne is about 45-50 miles south of the state capital, down Highway 331. I'd heard tales of this restaurant's existence for years and decided to see if there really was such a place. Easy to find, 331 to downtown Luverne, turn right and the Shack is just down the road on the left. Or, as I did the other day, head west on 10 from Troy. Nice road. Arriving at 9 or 10 a.m. is no problem. These folks told me they start serving fried chicken at 8:30 every morning. Ummmmmm...fried bird for breakfast. Doesn' t get any better than that!

I'm usually the only patron at that hour. So I kick back and read the sports while salivating over a breast and a wing. The chicken is excellent. Moist and cooked to perfection. The cole slaw isn't so mayonaisse-y that it runs, and the fries and rolls are good. Sweet tea, the sustainer of all southern human life, is quite good as well. The waitresses are attentive and friendly and the owner sometimes stops by and shoots the breeze with me for a few minutes.

On one visit, there was a corner table filled with 6 or 7 older gentlemen. Just me and them. I couldn't help but overhear some of their conversation and it was cool as hell. It was obvious that one guy had been a local sportswriter and he was telling tales of encounters with Bear Bryant, Pat Dye, and other Alabama celebs. I couldn't help but wonder where I'll be hanging out when I get a few years further down the road. Nothing like a regular spot to settle in with your buddies and lie to each other, solve the world's problems, and ogle the ladies. siiiiiigh

Now I realize that fried chicken may not be considered the healthiest of breakfast or lunch options. But, as I partake of it so seldom these days (got to watch my svelte figure), the rare occasions that I do eat it are treats. If you need to bump that cholesterol level up a few points, head down to Luverne and get you some Shack bird. Oh, their tee shirts are sharp as hell, too. Great logo and only $10.