Thursday, May 22, 2008
Events Playing Chicken
Posted by Carrington Fox on Thu, May 22, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Two swallows may not a summer make, but two hot chicken festivals could be the makings of a summer tradition. The second annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival will come home to roost July 4 in East Park.
Former Mayor Bill Purcell hatched the idea last year for an event celebrating Nashville's indigenous fried delicacy. In the inaugural battle of the breasts, East Nashville resident Will Radford of Will and the Fry Girls beat out then-mayoral candidate David Briley. Meanwhile, hot chicken hopeful Brett Wade was scratched from the competition when he was deployed with the Tennessee National Guard. Having completed his military tour of duty, Wade will take up arms in the MCHCF breast stakes this year. Competition organizers are calling for five more amateur contestants to join the cook-off, which will be judged by a panoply of poultry pros.
Think you've got what it takes to fire up some fowl? Apply online for one of five remaining berths.
If you'd rather just watch from the wings, you can enjoy samples from Bolton's Spicy Chicken and Fish, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack and 400°, along with entertainment and activities for the family. If last year was any indicator, get there early. The crowds were huge and the lines were long.
The free event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at 700 Woodland St.
Comments (12)
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Any word on whether there will actually be, um, ENOUGH FREAKIN CHICKEN this year? When I showed up last year it was just a collection of people waiting in line for booths that weren't even cooking because they had run out. I know part of the joy of hot chicken is it being cooked to order, but last year wasn't just huge crowds and long lines. I'd say it was a bit of disaster.
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To be fair, last year was the first year and no one anticipated the turnout they got. Anyone who's been around town long enough has seen the same growing pains for every good idea that eventually turns out great after a couple of years of ironing out the kinks - Summer Lights, Artrageous, the Tomato Festival, etc.
Hmmm... Stand out in the sun in an hour in the middle of freakin July to maybe get some hot chicken. I'll pass.
Why not have this in the evening?
ps. Can someone please explain the waiting for an hour for a piece of chicken thing to me? I love hot chicken, but have more or less stopped eating it because of the terrible wait times.
Why not have this in the evening?
Because East Nashville will be practically impassable once traffic starts pouring in for the fireworks display downtown. The real question, for me: why have it in the summer? Sure, it's easier to schedule on July 4, a national holiday...but man, it was sweltering last year.
ps. Can someone please explain the waiting for an hour for a piece of chicken thing to me?
I'll explain this whole "foreplay" thing to you sometime.
There should be some Yazoo beer there this year. Might take the edge off the heat (both kinds!)
There should be some Yazoo beer there this year. Might take the edge off the heat (both kinds!)
Your explanation for that 1 hour wait (btw, that's not the worst in my experience) can be had in one glance through the window - just count the skillets. I don't know where the rest of you were, but when I was invited to honor Ms. Andre at the Marriott for Prince's Hot Chicken Shack's 25th year in business, I brought the most selfish gift a customer can - a Lodge cast iron skillet of her favorite size. if we could take up a collection and get her a range with more eyes, throw in a few more skillets, who knows what we could accomplish!
