Page 167 - Barbecue Chicken Made Easy

A specialist in poultry, Baker helped invent chicken nuggets, turkey ham, and poultry hot dogs. But in picturesque Ithaca, NY, where Cornell is located, about six hours north and west of Manhattan, he is best remembered for Cornell Chicken. In fact, the recipe has become so popular it is served all across Western New York. It is not known for sure when he introduced the recipe but it is contained in a Cornell Cooperative extension Bulletin probably from the early 1950s. Here is a photo of Nathan “Nate” Hardy from the early 1960s in Almond, NY contributed with permission by his family. The buildings in the background were once chicken houses.
Meathead lived in Ithaca for 18 years and fell in love with this recipe. Every fund-raising event, every fire department cookout, every little league barbecue must serve this recipe or nobody would come. Even though Baker died in 2006, his family has