Duck, Duck Goose (But Mainly Chicken and Turkey)

“Nobody calls me chicken!” – Marty McFly, Back to the Future

While often associated with cowardice, the chicken – and her feathered friends in the poultry family – may not get respect in the streets, but they sure do in the kitchens of franchise restaurants across the country. In fact, the mighty cow was unseated as the top meat in America just three years ago when in 2013, according to Priceonomics, Americans consumed more chicken than beef. Poultry consumption in general has been increasing according to the National Chicken Council which estimates that in 2016, Americans will consume 107.6 pounds of poultry per capita, up from 105.6 pounds in 2015.

So, in that spirit, we celebrate National Poultry Day every year on March 19^th.

But how to celebrate this most sacred of holidays? Look no further than the variety of franchise restaurants who have added all types of fowl dishes (that taste anything but foul) to their menus.

So while duck, goose, and quail haven’t exactly taken franchise restaurants by storm, here’s how to celebrate poultry during all three meals of your National Poultry Day.

What Came First? – Breakfast – Famous Toastery Omelet & Wine Pairings

We start with the most important meal of the day – and what’s a good, hearty breakfast without the earliest form of fowl, eggs. Well, if you’re like me, no brunch is complete without the accompanying adult beverage. It’s just a great way to start the day. But over at North Carolina-based better breakfast franchise Famous Toastery, they aren’t just providing your standard Bloody Mary or mimosa. No, you can pair a variety of delicious omelets with a nice glass of vino – like their Tofu Omelet with a Riesling, New Yorker Omelet with California Bonterra Winemaker's Reserve, MBS Omelet with a Pinot Noir from Chile, or the Southwestern Omelet with a good Merlot. Cheers!

Gobble, Gobble – Lunch – MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes* Turkey Burger

After washing down a delicious omelet with a glass or two of wine at Famous Toastery, a lighter lunch is in order. Over at MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes you can get a juicy, warm turkey burger patty and then spruce it up with a variety of toppings and sauces. For an added feeling of healthiness, you can even lose the bun and order your turkey burger as an Iceburger, replacing the bun with a crisp lettuce wrap. The brand has innovated with their turkey burger offering too, at points offering LTO’s such as the Jalapeño Jack Turkey Burger and creating a “Turkeytarian Moo’vement” where guests received free turkey burgers during a one-day celebration.

Spread Your Wings – Dinner – Buffalo Wings & Rings Boneless Buffalo Wings

To close out our National Poultry Day celebration, you have to go with an American classic. Buffalo Wings & Rings has been doing wings for more than 30 years and R&D Chef Elliot Jablonsky has created a variety of tantalizing tastes to keep your senses engaged. I suggest going with a combo of the Cool Wasabi and Bourbon BBQ, which were introduced to the menu in the summer of 2014, to get a nice mixture. In the past, Jablonsky has concocted unique takes on the wing such as the Wings of Fury featuring a curry powder dry rub fried to a super crisp then topped with sriracha sauce, or the Jack'd Up Wings AKA “THE BOSS” with sweet Thai chili and sea salt caramel topped with applewood-smoked bacon crumbles, black sesame seeds and scallions— garnished with caramel corn.