Nashville hot chicken has yet to become a food trend here (call us when the craze over Korean fried chicken is over, please) — but it’s not for lack of trying. Singapore Idol winner Taufik Batisah opened a hot chicken joint appropriately named Chix Hot Chicken in the Kampong Glam area, but the masses just aren’t biting. Maybe it’s just too spicy?
But for fans of fried chicken that bites back with every crunch and packs in tons of heat — here’s a good one: Belles Hot Chicken pop-up at Fraser Street hotel Andaz Singapore. For one weekend only, the cult fried chicken joint from Australia will be bringing their combo of fiery Nashville chicken and natural wine to Singapore for the first time.
The signature entrées from Belles is the product of celebrated chef Morgan McGlone who made his name in Nashville as chef de cuisine of acclaimed Southern restaurant Husk. The New Zealand-born chef took his love for Nashville hot chicken and brought it to Melbourne, opening his first Belles Hot Chicken outlet in 2014 before expanding to five more locations.
Not throwing any shade on the team behind Chix Hot Chicken, but hot damn. Our stomachs are sold.
The man has clout for days, clearly. He’s done pop-ups in collaboration with big-name joints like Noma in Sydney and Rosforth & Rosforth in Copenhagen, on top of an appearance on Masterchef Australia and a shoutout by Fuck, That’s Delicious host Action Bronson.
On Nov 17 and 18, local fried chicken enthusiasts will get to devour (and weep in joy/pain) items such as the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders, Chicken Wings, Chicken & Waffles and assorted sauces, including their house-made Mississippi comeback sauce, hickory BBQ sauce and more.
Here’s what awaits you, in the words of the chef himself, in a piece published on Munchies:
“We serve the sandwich in a Japanese-style milk bun, toasted with clarified butter, so it’s both steamed and crispy. We have our ‘good good’ sauce, made with American mustard, ketchup, pickled jalapeños, and apple cider vinegar, and then add American cheese, lettuce, and onion. For the chicken, we use a skin-on filet that’s been fried for about 7-8 mins. It’s pretty insane. To make good fried chicken, you need quality chicken with bones and skin so it crisps up in the frying oil.”
The heat ranges from the mild “Southern” to “Really F*ckin Hot”, so you know the drill — cold beer and wine to douse it all down.
The pop-up will be at Andaz Singapore’s Alley on 25. We’d like to note that at that height, no one outside the venue can hear you scream, so at least you’ll be suffering in a safe space.
The Belles Hot Chicken x Andaz Singapore pop-up will take over Alley on 25 at Andaz Singapore, from 12pm – 9pm (or until sold out) from 17 to 18 November 2018, Saturday and Sunday.
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