The Akron RubberDucks, Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, pays tribute to their native meals heritage with a one-game alternate id in 2024. The staff will play because the Barberton Fried Hen and Scorching Rice, an homage to a spicy meals merchandise that has its roots in a small city simply eight miles away.
The dish is attributed to Serbian immigrants Mike and Smilka Topalsky who served fried hen, rice, tomatoes, and scorching peppers in a restaurant within the early Nineteen Thirties.
“Fried chicken and hot rice have made Barberton the Fried Chicken Capital of the World,” stated Jim Pfander, RubberDucks President and Normal Supervisor. “Generations of Akronites have celebrated special moments around this dish, and people have flocked from around the world to Barberton to try this delicious, unique take on fried chicken.”
Fried Hen and Scorching Rice grew to become a staple of the area on its method to showing on Meals Community and PBS exhibits. It’s nonetheless served in Belgrade Gardens, the household’s restaurant, along with different native institutions like Hopocan Gardens and White Home Hen.
The sport, a part of the staff’s “Only in Akron” collection, will happen Friday, June 21.
