Do you remember chicken in a basket? When I was a kid it was a popular menu item in several Long Beach Island restaurants. I couldn’t imagine what it was because my family didn’t eat out much. I pictured a red checked napkin in a basket with a live hen inside. When I found out it was just crispy chicken with fries, I was disappointed.

Our family was clueless about different cuisines. When we did eat out we went to an “Eyetalian” restaurant. We were Irish and that was exotic enough for us.