GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
During the Great Depression, back-alley gamblers popularized the phrase “winner, winner, chicken dinner!” At the time, chicken was such a delicacy, it was reserved for the victors. For everyone else, there was mock poultry, such as the Midwestern mimic known as City Chicken. This skewer of veal or pork cubes was breaded to resemble a drumstick, then baked or fried. The impostor dinner was sometimes topped with gravy, then served with sides such as potatoes and vegetables.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/city-chicken
Although I grew up in southeastern Michigan, I had never heard of city chicken till DH mentioned it some years ago. His mother worked in a butcher shop for several years and made it for the shop, as well as at home.
I've made it once and it was a PITA! [emoji38] If I make it now, I don't tell him I'm making city chicken - I call it smothered pork chops