12 chickens - 12 chefs!

So today we went to the Chicken and Champagne Feast fundraiser at Kendall College.

This summer, the chicken has flown the coop right into the fryer for a philanthropic cause. Kendall College Trust’s inaugural Fried Chicken & Champagne Fest will be held at Kendall College Skyline Room on Saturday, August 22 from 11:30 am-3:00 pm. All event proceeds benefit Kendall College Trust, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that raises scholarship funds for premier culinary and hospitality students with financial need at Kendall College.

Kendall College has gathered a roster of award-winning chefs to fry-up their take on this classic dish. Now that’s something to give a cluck about!

Participating Chefs:

Celeste: Rob Peterson

Duck Inn/Bottlefork: Kevin Hickey

Farmhouse: Eric Mansavage

Honey Butter Fried Chicken: Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp

Leghorn: Jared Van Camp

Parachute: Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark

Parson’s Chicken and Fish: Hunter Moore 

Slurping Turtle: Takashi Yagihashi

Smalls: Joaquin Soler

Sumi Robata: Gene Kato 

Charlatan: Matt Troost

Yusho: Harold Jurado

Come cast your vote for your favorite! 

So while I am sorry to tell you I have no photos because I can't see all that well - still recovering from Monday's surgery...but I did taste all twelve chicken recipes and can give opinions on that - 

here are the contestants in the order we tasted them- 

then there was one place that didn't have any cards - Parson's then we continued on as follows

_

and here is my summary review- 

there were a number of honorable mentions- 

Slurping Turtle

Celeste

Farmhouse

then I would comment-

- that the Honey Butter fried chicken wasn't spiced to my taste but the combo with the honey butter was seriously worthy

- that the Yusho chicken prep was excellent but the sauce on the steamed bun was stone cold and that detracted from the overall enjoyment of the dish

but here is this judge's decision- the first runner up LEGHORN! terrific chicken and a stand up philosophy that wins and extra point with me...

But the WINNER was - hand's down - the fried chicken recipe from the cafeteria of the Atlanta Four Seasons (some serious competition down that way) for REAL DOWNHOME SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN  was the Reverend's recipe as executed by Chef Kevin Hickey of DUCK INN. 

A clear winner in my book- double dipped in buttermilk then fried to a crispy outside with a juicy inside-- the perfect combination - WON BIG BIG BIG- 

So if you want to do your own taste test I have included address and numbers above- and I can recommend the top five - the winner - the runner up and the three honorable mentions! and honestly having had Yusho's chicken i would add it to the list despite the sauce fail this afternoon... so head on out - summer time is drawing to a close- it is almost the final week of August! Go NOW!

Ernie!

so we made a very quick trip to Traverse City area over in Michigan to visit CBGB for two nights.  We went to see the Mitch Albom play about Ernie Harwell the beloved Detroit Tigers announcer of four plus decades.  It was terrific play.  Earlier that day we had stopped in Frankfort MI for lunch at Coho (good sandwiches on a lovely breezy screened porch) and a soft serve at Dairy Maid (been there unchanged for probably 50+ years.) For dinner we grabbed a bite at Red Ginger a few blocks from the Traverse City Opera House where the play was being staged.

the card for the good lunch place- Coho - go through the dining area to the back porch for a nice shaded table with a breeze off Lake Michigan...

we had two twists and one vanilla and one raspberry (flavor of the day)

the night before we left we finally caught up with our Florida neighbors Barb & John for a Chicago dinner (they too live half and half near us in Florida and not too far in Chicago during the summer time- small world!) It was a perfect night for outdoors so we met at Tre Kronor - for dinner in the garden- the food there is only passable but it was pleasant in the garden and it was great to catch up with them- they traveled a lot since returning in mid May as have we - so it took until August to get together- and so we already put some dates on the calendar for when we return to Florida.  Two Fogartyville concerts and a house concert in Seminole...

the summer has really zoomed by - tomorrow I have minor eye surgery scheduled and I took a week out of social engagements for recovery time (just in case) - next week TB and I are off on our annual DART trip- when we return it will be September.  We put the house on the market the second week of July- and six weeks into it we haven't had a lot of action- so September may call for a price adjustment.  Keep your fingers crossed for a sale... if not we will revisit the sale in the spring...

Our eastern eastern Europe trip is coming up soon as well--- so Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova etc we are heading your way soon! stay tuned.,....