Tag Archives: fried chicken sandwich

This Fat Sandwich has my name all over it…

So, we’re hanging out in Monticello, NY, a couple hours north of New York City, and about 10 miles from Bethel Woods, where they had the first Woodstock back in 1969. Now, we’ve got a couple hours to kill before a concert, so we’re heading over to Colosseo, this funky litltle Italian joint serving up all kinds of pizza, pasta, cheesesteaks and hoagies. You KNOW this is my kinda place, bro!!!!

We’re starting off with some fried cheese ravioli, coming in hot and crunchy, with oozy cheese and some marinara for dipping. Mamma Mia!!!

But now it’s time for the main event. They call this the Fat Sandwich, and it’s definitely not meant for skinny people. You’ve got fried chicken, mozzarella sticks, French fries, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato, all topped with ranch dressing. Shut the front, back and side doors!!!!!!

The fried chicken is definitely the star of the show here, along with the ranch. Veggies are stacked on top, so you don’t get them in every bite, but the lettuce and onion add a bit of crunch. Man, even the bread is good — a nice, chewy baguette roll. And it’s only 10 bucks, bro!!!!!!!

Now, this might not be an authentic Italian meal, but we’re washing it down with a real-deal Italian beer. Birra Moretti is only 5 bucks at this place, which is about half the price you’d pay in Toronto — so I think I’ll have at least a couple of these…

But you know me, I’ve still got room for dessert, bro! And this is body by chocolate lava cake, so I gotta go with that. It normally comes with vanilla ice cream, but they were all outta vanilla, so they gave me chocolate ice cream instead. No such thing as too much chocolate, son! While the lava seems to be more on top than inside, it’s still nice and warm, especially once you get to the middle.

And you know you’re not in the Big Apple (or the Big Smoke) anymore when this entire meal costs 50 bucks — after tax and tip!!!!

Back for Round 2 @ Score on King

Two years ago, we headed out to Score on King, this funky little sports bar serving up some ridiculous caesars, where I polished off The Checkmate, a caesar topped with so much stuff, it could feed a family of four (small, not very hungry people). But that was just one of two massively overstuffed caesars on the menu… so now it’s time to say hello to ma lil’ friend, Caesar Grande:

Do not adjust your settings, son — this drink is topped with nachos, mac ‘n cheese balls, corn dogs (on the other side), a fried chicken sandwich, Nutella pie and a 14 oz burger. So it’s like every part of a balanced breakfast in Flavourtown!!!!

We gotta start with the nachos, cuz you don’t want those to go soggy, bros. Tri-coloured chips topped with cheese, tomatoes, diced onions, black olives and jalapenos — nothing wrong with that at all. They even come in an edible taco bowl, although some of the edges were extra crispy.

The two “scorn dogs” (as they call them) are a nice little snack that really takes you back to your childhood — if you spent your childhood in sports bars drinking overloaded caesars, that is.

Now, deep fried mac ‘n cheese balls are one of the greatest culinary creations of all time…and their version definitely didn’t disappoint.

On the other hand, the fried chicken sandwich was kinda meh. Not overly saucy or crispy, it was just there. Oh, and they also put cheese on it, for some reason?

But now it’s time for the piece de beef-sistance: the 14 oz Score Burger. When I checked off The Checkmate, I ate a regular-sized cheeseburger in the process that was pretty tasty, but this one might be too much of a good thing. Sure, you’ve got some lettuce, tomato and donkey sauce here, but what you really taste is meat, meat, meat, Damned Bros!!!!

Of course, this multi-course meal also comes with dessert, and we’re talking Nutella pie, son. It maybe melted a bit in the early evening sun, but still hit the spot.

Now, unlike The Checkmate, The Caesar Grande is completely boneless, so there is no sexy aftermath shot…but let’s just say I didn’t let a drop go to waste. 😉

TORONTO’S TOP TAKEOUT: After this chicken sandwich, who needs Popeyes?

Now, I’m familiar with a whole lotta burger joints in this city, but when I come across one I haven’t tried yet, you KNOW I gotta check it out, bro! So I heard about this funky little joint in The Annex serving up an African take on burgers and fried chicken, and they deliver on Uber, so I’m definitely gonna order from Aunty Lucy’s Burgers!

They call this The Nima Sandwich, and if it goes anywhere Nima face, Imma hafta eat it, bro! You’ve got a boneless battered chicken thigh, topped with garlic sauce and just a bit of lettuce on a potato roll. And then they’ve got this mango scotch bonnet hot sauce, which adds a bit of a kick without melting your face off. Dude, I could slam at least three of these!!!

But let’s not sleep on the fries, now. These spuds are hot ‘n crispy, and go great with some ketchup. Plus, they give you a pretty decent-sized bag of ’em for like four bucks… That’s like a five-finger discount in Flavourtown!!!

4 Popeyes Fried Chicken Sandwiches…and a Coke!

The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich is finally available in Canada, bro! And you know I like my chicken fried, so I’m all over that like a top hat on Zack Brown! Now, I’m not someone who eats just one taco, one cheeseburger or one Waffle Double Down, so I just walked into Popeyes and dropped this epic order:

OK, I dunno why they put that down as a Barqs, but I swear to John Belushi that was four fried chickens and a Coke, Blues Bro! And hey, at just $5.99, I can probably finish four of these, right?

Now, it’s time for the six-dollar question: Does the Popeyes chicken sandwich live up to all the hype? Well, I’d be lying if I said it was the best fried chicken sandwich I ever had. I mean, it’s pretty basic — just chicken, a couple pickles, and some mayo on a bun. And it’s really not that big; I mean, it’s definitely no Double Down, or even a Big Crunch. But the weirdest thing was how inconsistent they were from one sammy to the next — the one you see here was the thickest, while a couple were super-crispy, and I randomly managed to save the juiciest one for last:

Did I really need to eat four of these babies? Well, without any sides, I could easily crush two, no problem…maybe three if I’m hungry. If I wasn’t channeling my inner Joliet Jake, I probably wouldn’t have four. But what can I say, I was on a mission from god, son!!!

TORONTO’S TOP TAKEOUT: Dirty Bird is the word!

Now, ordering takeout doesn’t always mean burgers and fries…not that there’s anything wrong with that. But I’m always on the lookout for something a little more funky, and I think I’ve found it at The Dirty Bird, this little joint in Kensington Market serving up northern fried chicken and waffles!!!

Now, if I’m gonna order from a place like The Dirty Bird, you KNOW I’m gonna go for the biggest, baddest, dirtiest dish they’ve got — and I’m pretty sure I’ve found it with their Big Dirty sandwich and a side of Dirty Fries!

Now, this has gotta be one of the best fried chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had — and that’s saying something! The chicken is so crunchy it makes its own sound effects, and it’s stuffed between two waffles that stay fluffy, not soggy. The crispy iceberg lettuce adds even more crunch, and they’ve got just enough of their signature Dirty Sauce on the bird to add a bit of kick, without making everything all saucy and messy…

Speaking of saucy and messy, though, their Dirty Fries definitely fit the bill! They take french-fried potaters and top ’em with shredded cheddar, donkey sauce and some more of that Dirty Sauce — which is sorta like a sweet chili Thai — making this a Northern-Fried Poutine Gone Wild in Flavourtown!!!!!!!!

Five-course fried chicken feast @ Beast

Now, you know I’m all about Beastmode, bro! So when I found out there’s this funky little joint serving up righteous wild game dishes, just offa King West…and their logo looks like a deathcore band??? Man, I didn’t care if I was gonna hafta run 67 yards to get to Beast!

And when it comes to this place, you wanna get there early. Right up until 7 pm, they’ve got a couple local craft beers for five bucks, along with get-em-till-they’re-gone tasting menu options, like this chorizo tostada. You’ve got a super-crunchy tortilla, crisp lettuce, Mexican sausage and cheese sauce…served up on a Sesame Street plate:

Now, if you think that last dish was pretty funky, well you ain’t seen n-n-nothing yet, Brody Broman! Say hello to some crispy pig ears done up all Japaneezy:

They call this dish okonomiyaki, and I’m about to go all Mr. Miyagi on it… Banzai, Daniel-san!

Now, after crushing a couple Ace Hill Pilsners before Happy Hour ends, it’s time to get to the good stuff, like these garlic parmigiano rolls. These soft, chewy, buttery flavour nuggets come topped with fresh shaved parma, and a side of marinara. Mamma mia!!!

Now, since I didn’t get enough of the pig before, now I’m pigging out on some wild boar belly, bro! This unctuous oinker comes with a side of apple butter, topped with bacon bits, for some hardcore pig-on-pig action!!!

But now it’s time for the main event. Weighing in at 300 pounds of deep-fried goodness, it’s the Beastwich. This southern-style sammy is smothered in sausage gravy, with a layer of pimento cheese, between a badass buttermilk biscuit. There are so many good things going on here that I don’t know where to start… but you can poooour that gravy on me, Bro Elliott!

Now, once Happy Hour was over, I had to make like my backroad buddy Tim Hicks and switch to a stronger beer. This Moroccan Brown Ale from Spearhead, straight outta Kingston, is made with dates, figs, raisins and a dash of cinnamon, and it’s as freaky as Guy Fieri’s face made outta fondant, bro!!!

(You cannot unsee this…)

Nashville hot chicken at an Italian pork sandwich place… Whaaa???

Now, I’ve had some legit Nashville hot chicken in Toronto, and I’ve also had the real deal in Nashville, so I definitely know what’s up. Man, even the “medium” will melt your face off at some of these joints! But at the same time, you’ve got these places that just stick “Nashville hot” on stuff that isn’t even spicy. (Nashville hot shrimp, anyone?) So when I saw that Porchetta & Co., this funky little joint on Dundas known for serving up roast pork sammies, had a Nashville hot chicken sandwich, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect…

Now, don’t get me wrong, this was a pretty tasty sando, bro. The chicken was thick and juicy, the pickles were super-crunchy, you’ve got a nice white bread that dissolves in your hand…but it was definitely not Nashville level spicy. The heat reminded me of a Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich. They definitely kick it up a notch in the flavour department, but there ain’t enough heat here to call it Nashville.

Now, I wanted to order a side of Fries Supreme–dude, this is body by Fries Supreme–but it turns out there were all outta cheese sauce…which is like a cardinal sin in Flavourtown. Instead they suggested the poutine, which I would normally be OK with. But once again, this dish wasn’t quite what it was supposed to be. Don’t get me wrong, the fries were chunky and delicious, the gravy was super thick, and they put little bits of crispy pork skin on top, which were TheBomb.it, bro! But those sure as shit ain’t squeaky cheese curds — more like shredded mozza, which is a major letdown. The rest of the equation was solid enough that some real-deal cheese curds would make it too legit to quit, but instead it’s more like Yo!!! Sweetness…

Crushing craft beers and feasting on food trucks @ the CNE

Now, you KNOW I love to chow down at the CNE bro–like that one time when I demolished an all-in-one chicken/veal/eggplant parm sammy, and still had room for a chocolate Philly steakclair for dessert. But maybe the best time to go to the Ex is the second last weekend, when they’ve got a food truck frenzy and a craft beer festival, all rolled into one on Princess Street.

So, I started out by grabbing some deep-fried cheese curds from some Flavourtown royalty at The King of Curds. About the only way you could possibly make poutine better is by deep-frying it, so this is pretty much the best thing ever, bro!!!

When it comes to the booze, they give you tokens for $2.50 that get you one sippy cup each. Since there were about eight different breweries, I got to try pretty much everything that wasn’t wine or cider. Because why drink wine or cider when you can have a Farmers Daughter Blonde Ale from Whitewater Brewing Co???

Now, Big Rock is just about my favourite local craft brewery, and they’re funking it up with the Bellyflop, an apricot grisette that tastes like summer in a glass. Dude, calling this beer a flop is like saying Biodome isn’t the best movie of all time, bro!!!

Now, I’m not sure what a Boshkung is, but it totally tastes delicious. This Happy Camper Irish red ale is basically the Billy Elliot of alcoholic beverages, bro!!!

Now, I’ve never been to Hawaii, but I own, like, 17 Hawaiian shirts, so you know I’m all over this Hawaiian Style IPA from Spearhead, son!

So, after pounding four beers, you know what time it is? Taco Time, bro! This Captain Crunch Fish Taco from Food Dudes comes fully loaded with guacamole, pickled red cabbage, smoked sour cream, hot sauce, scallions, tomatoes and a whole lotta cilantro. No actual Captain Crunch though, but how awesome would that be???

We’re going back to the beer with probably the best name of the day–Useless Crayon White IPA from Market Brewing. Now, the white crayon might be the most useless in the box, but when it comes to brewskis, I could use a few more of these!

Now, that last beer had the best name, but this one here is the funkiest of the bunch. Can you say Maple Buttertart Ale, bro? Sawdust City’s got the maple and the buttery taste all in a glass–whoa-oh-oh it’s magic!!!

And finally, we’re ending things on a light, crisp, refreshing note with Muskoka Summerweiss. It’s like the Feel Good Hit of the Summer in Flavourtown, bro!

But you KNOW that after eight beers, two tacos and a whole buncha cheese curds, we’ve still got room for dessert, bro! So we’re heading into the Food Building for this festival of funk in Flavourtown–the Heartbreak S’More. You’ve got a hot and tender fried chicken breast, topped with toasted marshmallows and graham cracker crumbles, between chocolate-dipped buns, with another marshmallow on top!!!??? Dude, this dish should get an Oscar for Best Fried Chicken in a Supporting Role!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fried chicken sandwich and tequila fries @ Tequila Bookworm

So, we’re hanging out at Tequila Bookworm, this funky little craft beer bar on Queen West. This place has got daily rotating taps, along with a whole bevvy of pricey bottles, but when it comes to food, they keep it simple, with sandwiches, poutines and salads.

This fried chicken sandwich is outta bounds, bro! You’ve got super-crispy breading, with pickles, lettuce, a nice crunchy slaw and some spicy mayo. Nothing wrong with that at all!

And then there’s this funky dish of deliciousness, the house specialty: tequila fries. You’ve got some nice, crispy spuds, topped with green onions, tomatoes, feta cheese and these spicy chilies. This ain’t yer grandpappy’s poutine, son!

With so many local craft beers on tap, it’s hard to pick just one. But I went with the Barnraiser Pale Ale, from Oast House Brewers in Niagara on the Lake. Apparently they don’t just grow wine in the Niagara Region…and I’ll take this zesty IPA over a pinot grigio any day!!!

ASSEMBLY CHEF’S HALL: You know I like my chicken fried…

Now, fried chicken is just about the best kind of fast food there is–especially when you get it at a gas station in Cleveland. As far as I’m concerned, every real-deal food court needs a fried chicken joint, and the Assembly Chef’s Hall checks that box with Love Chix.

This funky chicken shack is serving up winner, winner chicken dinner with seasonal sides sold separately, but for the same price, you can also get it in sandwich form, like so:

OK, let’s break it down. You’ve got a crispy breaded fried chicken with a honey hot sauce that’s equal parts heat and sweet. There’s also a great big glop of tangy mayo, some scratch-made slaw and just a couple greens, for presentation. Between the hot sauce and the mayo, I totally destroyed a couple napkins slamming this sammy down my piehole, bro! I gotta say, it’s pretty tasty…but it’s also 15 bucks, so there’s that.

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