This week, we discover what happens when your server escorts you on a chicken run. We also welcome Guest Gulletier, Herberto DaSilva to the table.
All About Brine - Kitty
During Restaurant Week in Providence, I participated in a rare Monday night outing at Parkside Rotisserie downtown. They were offering a three-course, pre-fixe menu with three entree choices. I made firm decisions on my starter and dessert but was unsure about my main dish. When our server came to take our order, it was like she could read my mind (or the deep furrow in my brow). "Stuck between two?" she asked. I was deciding between the NY strip with creamy mashed potatoes or the buttermilk fried chicken and polenta. Without hesitation, she looked me dead in the eyes and said, "Get the chicken." She told me that the way they prepared it was "more interesting" than the other menu options...that baby had been buttermilk brined. Presented over a bed of roasted tomato and mascarpone cheese polenta that had been mixed with baby peas were a perfectly crispy breast, leg, AND thigh! Takeaways include making time for marinade and not being ashamed to order the safest dish on the menu because it might be better than you bargained for.
The verdict: Unbuttoned-on-the-ride-home win.
Name drops: Parkside Rotisserie & Bar
Moaning for Milanese - Greg
When my parents were visiting recently, we went to Wm. Farmer and Sons to celebrate some belated January birthdays. I felt excited and satisfied knowing I would order their famous fried chicken sandwich, but Lady Delish1 had other plans. The server (who had a fresh-cut flower in her hair) informed me that the sandwich had been removed from the menu because “chef was bored and wanted to switch things up." Respect. He had decided to replace the dish with a chicken Milanese and sweetie, she said, "You've never seen chicken Milanese done like this." You have my attention! She reported that chef prepared the chicken in the same marinade as the sandwich and then finished it off “his way.” She clinched the order when she whispered, "When I eat out, I never order the chicken dish, but when the staff got to try this at shift meal, I moaned." The dish arrived, and I, too, moaned. The chicken tasted like butter, but if butter…were chicken. Each bite was exceptionally tender and paired beautifully with the side of chived mashed potatoes. Even though the cutlets were soaked in the same special sauce as its predecessor, this entrée had a certain je ne sais quoi that I can only describe as thrilling. From now on, “chef’s way” is my only way.
The verdict: Finger lickin’ win.
Name drops: Wm. Farmer and Sons
Now that we’ve had dinner, let’s move on to lunch with our Guest Gulletier, Herberto DaSilva.
That’s a Wrap! - Herb
My sugars were low after a few hours of assisting Kitty on a product photoshoot last week. As luck would have it, a new coffee roaster, Hazel Origin, had recently opened up shop close to set. We figured they would have at least a few menu options to satisfy our late lunch needs. We had previously caffeinated, so we decided to forgo coffees for a couple of Poland Springs and two buffalo chicken wraps. No Diet Cokes or chip selections were available at the point of sale, making me worry that we made the wrong choice.
We settled at a table and waited for our buff chix to arrive. Moments later, my chip concerns vanished when our wraps appeared with heaps of surprise fries (arguably the best kind!) They were of the crispy, shoestring variety accompanied by ramekins2 of ketchup and garlic aioli. Looking at these generous dips, I knew I was in for a saucy, afternoon delight. Armed with the knowledge that this cafe possessed a secret fryolator, we were eager to start chewin’. Each chunk of chicken (connoisseurs recognize that a chunk drastically differs from a strip or tender) was expertly fried and crunchy. The chilled lettuce, velvety blue cheese dressing, and ripe tomatoes provided an array of palate-pleasing textures. Unlike most wraps, whose last bites are just a soggy mess of folded tortilla and lettuce doused in mayo, this one was packed with golden nuggets until the last mouthful. While I can’t speak to their coffee being good to the last drop, these wraps were good to the last panko breadcrumb.
The verdict: I’ll be back. Food win.
Name drops: Hazel Origin
A special thank you to this week’s illustrator, Jake Ruggiero! See his work here.
Let us know what’s going down your gullet! Drop us a note at putitinthegullet@gmail.com
Read about Lady Delish
Consider putting Ramekin on your list of baby names