The Best of Comfort Kellys Country Cooking Delights
Introduction
Nestled on a quiet corner in the heart of town, Kellys Country Cooking restaurant invites you in with the alluring aromas of simmering pot roast and buttery cornbread. For 30 years, this downhome eatery has served as the community’s kitchen away from home, dishing up tender chicken and dumplings, crispy fried chicken, and scratch-made sides that hug your soul. Kelly opened the doors in 1994 after years of cooking Sunday suppers so large that she joked she should start her restaurant. Word spread quickly about the array of comforting dishes starring fresh, local ingredients transformed through Kelly’s talent in the kitchen into something you’d proudly serve your kin.
Now, her little restaurant boasts hours-long waits and visitors from states away just looking to get an actual homecooked meal reminiscent of their grandma’s cooking. At Kelly’s, a day-in-the-life of a country cook comes through in classics like handmade fruit pies peeking sky-high with vents cut into golden flaky crust and piles of steamy, velvety mashed potatoes towering next to Coca-Cola glazed meatloaf.
Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm. So join the crowd, making its way through the red front door to taste the flavours our mothers and grandmothers used to cook up. Kelly’s cooking from the heart warms your own; one stick-to-your-ribs bite at a time.
Kelly’s Most Famous Comfort Food Menu Items
Kellys Country Cooking takes pride in serving nostalgic, homestyle dishes that keep loyal customers returning year after year. Here’s your guide to the items on Kelly’s menu that can’t be missed:
The Chicken and Dumplings That Dreams Are Made Of
This signature Kelly’s dish has reached legendary status in this town. Kelly’s fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth dumplings and tender morsels of chicken are simmered in a soul-warming chicken broth bursting with flavour.
What Makes Them So Special
- Dumplings entirely made from scratch using Kelly’s special recipe with cake flour
- Cooked gently in a velvety chicken broth, slow-simmered for hours
- Chunks of chicken locally sourced from nearby farms
Pair this stick-to-your-ribs dish with some green beans and cornbread, and you’ve got a meal that conjures up memories of sitting around Grandma’s table.
The Crispiest, Juiciest Fried Chicken Around
One bite of Kelly’s fried chicken and your tastebuds will rejoice from the crispy, cracking exterior giving way to the juiciest, most flavorful meat inside. There’s a reason Kelly’s fried chicken has won coveted awards at statewide competitions for years running. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm.
The Secret Is in the Marinade
Kelly soaks her chicken overnight in a special buttermilk marinade boldly seasoned with:
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne pepper
After a dredge through Kelly’s signature seasoned flour mix, the chicken gets fried to a beautiful golden brown locking in all the flavorful juices inside.
Fan Favorites to Pair It With
Kelly’s fried chicken is best enjoyed alongside Southern classics like:
- Creamy coleslaw
- Mac and cheese
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
- Green beans cooked with bacon
With sides like those, Kelly’s fried chicken dinner makes you feel right as rain on the front porch of a country home.
And there you have the inside scoop on what makes fans flock to Kelly’s for her fried chicken and dumplings alone! From the hilltops of Appalachia down to the Mississippi River valley, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an eatery producing comfort classics more reminiscent of MeMaw’s kitchen table. At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage.
Kelly’s Slow-Simmered Pot Roast – As Tender As Grandma’s Love
Another beloved classic shining the comfort food spotlight at Kellys Country Cooking is a pot roast with fork-tender meat and vegetables all bathed in a rich gravy. This homestyle masterpiece has been a Sunday supper staple in Kelly’s family for generations. Now, she lovingly simmers each pot roast following her great-grandmother’s tradition. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm.
Starts With the Most Flavorful Chuck Roast
Kelly’s hand-selected grade AA chuck roasts boast the perfect marbling and fat content to achieve ultimate tenderness and flavour after hours of gentle cooking. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm. These roasts get expertly rubbed down with the following:
- Sea salt
- Coarse black pepper
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Garlic
Low and Slow Is Key
The marinated roast then goes into a heavy pot along with:
- Diced potatoes
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onions
- Beef broth
This gets cooked long and slow, never coming up to a heavy boil, in a 275°F oven for at least 5 hours until the meat shreds at the slightest touch from your fork.
The Most Comforting Way to Enjoy
Kelly’s pot roast is served swimming in natural juices, and gravy is made from the cooking liquid. Scoop this over buttery mashed potatoes or egg noodles to soak up every last drop of richness.
With soul food this satisfying, it’s no wonder Kelly’s pot roast feeds more broken hearts and hungry souls than a whole town full of grandmas combined! You’re immediately wrapped up in nostalgia from the first whiff of this American classic bubbling away.
Kelly’s Famous Award-Winning Fried Chicken – The Crowd Favorite with a Crunchy Secret
When you ask locals what they love most on Kelly’s beloved comfort food menu, the resounding answer is her fried Chicken. This is no run-of-the-mill fried bird. Kelly’s Chicken has won top prize at the State Fair’s fried chicken competition for five years straight. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm.
So What’s All the Hype About?
Kelly starts with fresh, never-frozen Chicken delivered from local farms just down the road. She soaks these chicken parts overnight in a well-guarded buttermilk marinade bursting with secret seasonings. Then, each piece gets double-dredged in a seasoned flour mixture before hitting the fryer.
At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm.The result? A shatteringly crisp exterior reveals supremely moist and juicy Chicken inside that transports you to your grandma’s kitchen table.
Kelly’s Secret Seasoned Flour
Kelly keeps the precise blend of herbs, spices, and seasonings in her marinade and flour mix under lock and key. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm. But here’s what we do know about the ingredients that give this fried Chicken its award-worthy flavour:
- House blend of 12 spices including black pepper, thyme, cayenne pepper, and savoury
- Finishing flour tossed with cornstarch for an ultra-crisp texture
- Buttermilk provides a tangy flavour and tenderizes the meat
- Garlic powder and onion powder add a pop of flavor in every bite
Why It Wins Over The Competition
Judges at the State Fair have awarded Kelly 5 consecutive blue ribbons because her fried Chicken surpasses the competition in these areas:
- Extreme crunch factor from double-dredging
- Not the least bit greasy or soggy
- Delicately seasoned breading doesn’t overwhelm the chicken flavour
- Locks in juices so the meat stays succulent and tender
Make a beeline for Kelly’s nationally renowned fried Chicken when you’re craving downhome cooking that transports you straight to grandma’s kitchen. At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage. With this level of tasty nostalgia, she ought to give out hugs instead of blue ribbons!
Kelly’s Signature Homemade Cornbread – Sweet, Buttery Perfection
No comforting Southern meal is complete without a golden wedge of cornbread served up alongside. At Kellys Country Cooking, this sweet, buttery cornbread achieves legendary status among patrons who proclaim it’s the best they’ve ever tasted. At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage.
It Starts With the Ingredients
Kelly has perfected the ratios of ingredients in her cornbread to achieve its signature texture and flavour:
- Locally milled fine yellow cornmeal
- All-purpose flour
- Whole buttermilk
- Farm-fresh eggs
- Butter
- Dash of sugar
She insists on using all-purpose flour in the mix rather than cornmeal only. This contributes to a lighter, fluffier crumb compared to dense traditional cornbreads.
The Bake Makes All the Difference
Kelly pours her special batter into well-seasoned cast iron skillets that have baked up decades’ worth of this cornbread. The sizzling hot pans ensure a crispy, golden brown crust forms on the edges and bottom. And she tops it with an extra pat of butter right before baking. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm.
The Pièce de Résistance – Hot Honey Butter
While Kelly’s cornbread needs no further adornment beyond a slab of butter, she takes it over the top with her signature honey butter melting. She blends creamy butter, velvety honey, and a dash of cayenne to balance the sweetness. Drizzle this elixir over your warm cornbread wedge for pure bliss.
When you visit Kelly’s and the aroma of freshly baked cornbread tickles your nose, no doubt you’re in for the kind of downhome, stick-to-your-ribs meal you’ll cherish like a long-lost relative. Save room for this signature side that perfectly complements fried chicken, pot roast, or vegetable plates. One taste, and you’re instantly comforted from the inside out!
Kelly’s Downhome Sides – Scene-Stealing Standouts from Grandma’s Recipe Box
The Southern classics, alongside Kelly’s famous comfort food entrees, also steal a fair share of the spotlight. At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage. At Kelly’s, no meal is complete without adding a liberal helping of her rich and satisfying homemade sides. Here’s what you can expect to round out your downhome platter when dining at this cornerstone of the community:
Macaroni and Cheese
This is mac and cheese like your childhood self remembers – slick and velvety with just the right crunch from a gilded topping. Kelly makes hers the traditional Southern way, with a roux-based cheese sauce mixing gooey cheddar and Monterey Jack for next-level creaminess. Tender elbow macaroni gets smothered in the decadent sauce and topped off with buttery breadcrumbs or Ritz crackers before baking to golden, bubbly perfection. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm.
Collard Greens
Slow simmered with smoked ham hocks until falling apart tender, Kelly’s collards balance the ideal sweet and tangy flavour. She simmers them low and slow with onions, garlic, pepper sauce, and vinegar to achieve that lip-smacking taste found at Grandma’s Sunday dinner table.
Mashed Potatoes
Cloud-like mounds of mashed potatoes form the perfect vessel for soaking up pot roast gravy, chicken fried steak drippings, or slathered in butter. Kelly smashes her taters the old-fashioned way with milk and butter for a smooth, creamy consistency. She dishes up potato casseroles loaded with cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives for special occasions.
You can’t go wrong rounding out any entree with a couple of Kelly’s classic cooked-with-love sides passed down through generations. One home-cooked bite instantly transports you to the comforting Southern suppers of childhood. At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage.
Kelly’s Downhome Desserts – Sweet Southern Finales Straight from the Cookie Sheet
You better save room when dining at Kellys Country Cooking because her homemade desserts will have you swooning with delight. This Southern chef shines when it comes to turning out comforting, nostalgic sweets like your grandma used to make.
Fruit and Cream Pies
The dessert case at Kelly’s overflows with mile-high pies beckoning your fork. Her buttery, flaky crusts cradle classic fillings like chocolate cream, coconut cream, banana cream and seasonal fruits like strawberry rhubarb or peach. Dollops of freshly whipped cream top each slice because Kelly knows you’ve got to have your cream with fruit pie!
Cobblers and Crisps
When berries, peaches, or apples come into season, Kelly bakes up batches of old-fashioned fruit cobblers and crisps. She loves using a biscuit dough topping for her cobblers to soak up all the bubbly fruit juices. Her crisps feature a crispy oat culminating over gooey fillings with vanilla bean ice cream on the side for à la mode perfection.
Bread Pudding
This comforting dessert features cubed French bread soaked in a sweet custard with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Kelly bakes her bread pudding until lightly browned and bubbling, then tops it with whiskey sauce for boozy richness. Spoonfuls of this popular dessert disappear quicker than Granny’s cures the hiccups!
Kelly’s downhome desserts promise sweet satisfaction with generous scoops of nostalgia baked right in. Don’t turn down a slice of pie or cobbler warm from the oven – one bite says “welcome home” straight from Granny’s kitchen. At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage.
The Kellys Country Cooking Experience – Like Being Welcomed into the Family
When you walk through the red front doors at Kelly’s, you instantly feel like you’re stepping into the warm embrace of family—this corner eatery beams with hometown charm and hospitality.
Come On In!
Sunny yellow walls display antique skillets, well-worn cookbooks, and quilts sewn by patrons over the years. Tables are set with classic red and white checkered cloths and fresh flowers plucked from Kelly’s garden. Servers in Kelly’s signature embroidered aprons bustle about while cooks in the open kitchen shout out orders in that familiar banter that sounds like home.
30 Years of Downhome Cooking
Kelly opened the doors to her little restaurant in 1994 after spending years cooking up Sunday suppers for her ten siblings. Word of mouth about her talent for Southern classics saw lines stretching out the door from that first week. Now, three decades later, Kelly’s great nieces and nephews help run the family establishment that’s grown into a community pillar. At Kellys Country Cooking, the culinary journey is a homage to the rich tapestry of regional flavors and culinary heritage.
Where Everyone is Family
Patrons swap stories over chicken fried steak, like at grandma’s table. Kelly makes her way to every table, checking in on everyone’s meal as if they were her kin. Kids gobble up fried chicken fingers while drawing on butcher paper tablecloths. And everyone leaves with a hug from Kelly herself, plus a little doggie bag whether they want it or not!
From the staff who treat you like they’re kin to the cosy, costuming space to the bustling open kitchen, Kellys Country Cooking envelopes guests in Southern hospitality from start to finish. It’s just how every meal should feel – like coming back home. Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm.
Conclusion: Kellys Country Cooking
For over 30 years, Kellys Country Cooking has served as the heartbeat of the community, drawing hungry diners from across state lines seeking a homecooked meal in a place that feels like home. From Kelly’s melt-in-your-mouth fried chicken to forks sinking into tender pot roast drenched in gravy, this little corner restaurant beams with nostalgia in every stick-to-your-ribs bite.
Loyal regulars keep returning not just for the Chicken and Dumplings that Dreams Are Made Of or the Award-Winning Fried Chicken but for sidelines like Macaroni and Cheese and Collard Greens cooked to perfection.
Kellys Country Cooking serves up delicious homestyle meals with a touch of Southern charm. And no one leaves without a doggie bag of leftovers and one of Kelly’s signature desserts baking up sweet memories in the form of Fruit and Cream Pies, Cobblers and Bread Pudding. At Kelly’s, strangers become quick friends, breaking bread at a welcoming table filled with childhood flavours.