Chicken tenders are always a fan favorite. A classic since childhood, the breaded and fried pieces of chicken breast are a common item on any American menu. Alongside prominent franchises, like Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and Chick-fil-A, is a lesser-known competitor: Flintridge Prep’s chicken tenders.
In recent months it has become almost impossible to walk through Ahmanson during lunch without hearing a conversation about Prep’s highly acclaimed chicken tenders. However, the students are not conversing about the physical tenders, but rather the absence of them. Since it has been months since the Prep campus saw them on the menu, almost every student is troubled by what is now known as the disappearance of the chicken tenders. A junior, Kayla E. Lee ‘24, even expressed how she was “deeply saddened and [she has] been craving chicken tenders ever since they left the menu.”
While many students searched for answers behind the exodus of their favorite menu item, rumors began to circulate throughout the school. Some people claimed that with the increasing rate of inflation, the chicken tenders were too expensive for the school to purchase. However, this theory did not appear legitimate as all other menu items remained consistent. Other rumors alleged that the kitchen’s supplier no longer carried the beloved tenders. These claims simply held no validity behind them.
In an attempt to ease the chicken tender lovers, Antonio Ramirez, an adored staff member on the Flintridge Prep campus, finally settled the debate. He revealed that “the deep fryer [they] have is not big enough. [They] don’t have enough time during lunch to fry the chicken tenders and the fries at the same time.” Antonio resolved the mystery. The chicken tenders did not disappear due to inflation or lack of supply; rather, the kitchen doesn’t have the facilities to make serving the chicken tender combo a sustainable practice.
However, the most important question has yet to be answered: will the Prep campus ever see those chicken tenders again?
The answer is yes.
Next year, students have a great amount to look forward to in terms of the kitchen and menu variety. As Antonio revealed, the chicken tenders will probably come back “next year because they are redoing the kitchen. So, they are getting newer and larger deep fryers.” The kitchen remodel is expected to not only bring back old favorites but also improve the facilities for the dining and events staff.
Finally, every chicken tender fanatic can rest assured that, although it may not be this year, they will be able to order their favorite menu item sometime in the near future.
