The feud began generations ago when one woman accused her sister of having a baby with her husband. The story originally penned by K.J. Dell’Antonia has a gritty Southern feel as hostilities still pulse underneath the skin of today’s generation of the feuding families. And when one of the daughters marries the son of the other family — well, things get a little more dicey.

Both families run chicken restaurants — Mimi’s and Frankie’s. The fractured families now face a new challenge when the popular cooking competition “Kitchen Clash” comes to town to find out once and for all which restaurant serves the best fried chicken. With “Kitchen Clash” in Merinac, things get even more convoluted.

The show looks at the two families and how the reality series effects them and the people of the town. There are sides being taken, and that doesn’t include mashed potatoes, etc. People in Merinac have their favorite restaurant, and the history of the town is steeped in both Southern charm as well as long-held grudges.

The series premiered Sept. 10 on Hallmark’s new streaming service Hallmark+.