Back when my parents were still with us, we’d often go to a restaurant in Daly City called Lyons.  Actually, whenever we’d go out to dinner with them we always went to Lyons.  And my father would always ask me if I was getting the Chicken-Fried Steak – and I almost always did.

Lyons was a bit of an upscale diner that had been around as long as I could remember.  At their peak, they probably had 65 or 70 restaurants.  The food was typical of a diner-type chain…  Glossy menu with  a dozen types of burgers, salads, and a host of standard dinner entrees – of which the aforementioned Chicken-Fried Steak was one. They went bankrupt right around the turn of the century. I don’t think any of them are around anymore.

Their CFS was served with the requisite Country Gravy – a cream sausage gravy – and almost always with either peas or green beans.  My parents liked the predictability.  I just found it amusing.  While the food was adequate, one didn’t go there for the grand cuisine.  We went for the company.

Fast-forward a few years and I have in my kitchen, a bag of Adluh Carolina Breader.  Just the thing I need to make a Chicken-Fried Steak at home!  I make CFS at home a coupe of times a year – and made it last year after we got the deep fryer – but I was really looking forward to seeing what “Carolina Breader” would do.

What it did, was make a most-excellent Chicken-Fried Steak!

I was quite pleased with the end result.  Knowing that it was a fully-seasoned mix, I didn’t add a thing.  I dredged the tenderized steaks in the breader, dipped them in egg, and then dredges again.

Just for grins and giggles I fried them in a combination of grapeseed oil and bacon fat.

After they were cooked, I pulled them out of the pan, added some mushrooms, and make a quick pan gravy.  I used the dredging flour as thickner.

The Carolina Breader has a great crunch and an excellent white pepper kick.  That was the one thing that really reminded me of all those dinners with mom and pop!  Pronounced but not overpowering.  Great balance.

I’m glad there’s still plenty left.  I see a fish-fry in my future.

You can buy Adluh products online at Adluh.com.