If you're from the South or ever drive through the South with your windows down you know this simply truth; a gas station is not just a gas station. It is a hub of activity. A place to catch up on local news, get a morning coffee-breakfast-lunch-late night snack. It has menu staples, but also a surprise every time you stop in. And so when I heard a new "gas station" was coming to the Augusta area, I had to investigate.
Now Parker's Kitchen gets major points for a few reasons. Headquarters is in Savannah and expansion is across Georgia and South Carolina. Food is fresh and prepared onsite. And speaking of, that food is worth stopping for even when the tank is not on E. Chicken tenders, mac 'n' cheese, biscuits, frozen drinks (e.g. orange dreamsicle). But here's the pièce de résistance, and I discovered it on accident. I stopped in on the way home, hoping for a sub or something mundane for my first visit. As I walked over to the food section though something quickly caught my eye. "Is that chicken livers?", I wondered. And next to them, gizzards? Of course potato wedges were nearby. I had to plant my feet for a moment so as not to faint. You have to understand this Southern boy grew up on a some livers and wedges, in a styrofoam cup, from the "gas station." Much like boiled peanuts from the back of a pickup truck, this is hard pressed to find nowadays. And here? I had to have some. They had a combo which comes with wedges and a drink. That makes sense. Went for the livers and got a large peach lemonade. This experience could not wait for the drive home.
I went to my car and immediately opened the box. There they were; a dozen breaded livers with the crunchy extra breading bits sprinkled in and the wedges at the top. Time stood still. Was I there 30 seconds? 30 minutes? 30 days? I still don't know, but I do know that box was completely empty before I left. Livers, of any source, are an acquired taste. There is a metallic taste, likely due to the high Iron content, and of course the muted coloring. But Parker's has it figured out! The taste and texture were comparable to grandma's (sorry Little Mawmaw, RIP). The breading was the right combo and the wedges just jumped right in like a kid at the neighborhood swimming pool on the first day of summer. I will be back. Again and again. Net up, biscuits. And some gizzards. read more