Monday, July 6, 2009
Events Can Mayor Dean Handle the Heat Like his Predecessor?
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Before our tear ducts and the skies opened up on July 4th, remember the happier times? Well, at least when our tears were streaming because of the capsaicin buzz that accompanied the third annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival at East Park.
Eric and Katie have a recap over at their always entertaining Nashville Restaurants blog. In the hotly contested Amateur Cooking Division, The Pollo Suave crew from Mufreesboro took home the Golden Clucker besting Hot Hula Girl Chicken,Team Rutledge, Hot as Cluck Fried Chicken, Driving & Frying, Bucky's and Team Rudloff.
Sure, the lines were long for beer and free chicken, but you couldn't have asked for better weather to share a day of camaraderie and peppery poultry. Crowd estimates range from 7,000 people to "everybody in the whole damned city," and the Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms benefited from the proceeds.
Speaking of bottoms, take it from an expert, Mr. Mayor. Tucks Pads.
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Here's last year's winner: http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/bites/2008/07/bites_exclusive_winning_hot_ch.php
congrats to Pollo Suave. they have been working on perfecting their recipe for over a year and it really paid off. We will have a full report on our blog later this week.
Ulika, Looking forward to it. Feel free to post your link here and we'll offer some linky love.
Here's a gripe: Why does a festival this spicy have a shirt and logo that's so vanilla? Why not have a public art component and get some of those hot East Nashville artists to compete for the T-shirt design?
My apologies to anyone who came up and tried to talk to me while I was devouring my East Side Fish sandwich. It wasn't pretty.
mr. pink - I did not try their bird and I just met them on Sat. The guys were some MTSU students who came to check out the event last year and then started working on their recipe.
Mr. Pink, I do know them and Ulika is right; they'd been working on this for over a year and made hundreds of batches before finally settling on the winning recipe. I was with them on Friday when they were practicing under contest conditions and let me tell you: they make some damn fine hot chicken! They'd like to open a restaurant in the next few years, as soon as they finish their degrees. Both have worked in restuarant management for several years while in school and with a now-award winning product, the future looks good for them.
I got to taste what Mayor Dean and Lorrie didn't scarf down and it was delish. Those guys were great, so excited. They have been working hard. But who wouldn't? Did you see the gawgous trophy we awarded? Stanley Cup cry your heart out. As for the teeshirt and other suggestions, we on the steering committee appreciate everyone's constructive criticism and suggestions. Please keep in mind this is an entirely volunteer committee who squeeze in the many many hours it takes to produce a festival for thousands to enjoy between jobs, families and other community work. We learn something--or several somethings--every year and are committed to continuing to improve the HCF. We think that this, our third HCF, was the smoothest so far. All our new and old vendors were happy and are committed to coming back. We look forward to an even better 4th annual Hot Chicken Festival in 2010. Thanks to all who came and supported. Pink, I ran into you just after you handed over your cash to East Side and decided it was best not to get between you and the crunkest fish in town.
Josh: Thrilling news, that we might have another hot chicken outpost in our future. Tell them they would be embraced in Woodbine as community heroes...nay, gods.
Kay: Sorry to denigrate the fine effort of the volunteers. Though I will continue to argue for the T-shirt/art component—and the move to a cooler time of year—clearly the event is taking on a life of its own. The wait in line this year wasn't anywhere near as unpleasant.
Pink! No denigration taken! You have been a tremendous supporter of HCF and we are serious about constructive criticism. Great idea on getting some creative input from the community on the merch. It sold pretty well this year. I am quite fond of aprons myself, and I'm thinking HCF potholders would be a nifty gift. As for different time of year, I hear ya, but I think the head rooster makes the call on that one.
That's some damned fine looking chicken, Ulika! Wish I could have been there.
I always suspected Purcell had a little bit of shigger in him. The man's a reverse carpet-bagger. 8^)
I was there at opening on my way elsewhere, didn't get to walk around much, so I didn't see the merch. Is any of it available online? It would be cool to see the clothing evolve into something as auspicious as the jazz fest shirt phenom, wouldn't it?
and as always, for consistency's sake, I'll second and third and fourth all suggestions for a cooler time of year. Watching them unload tubs of raw chicken at the Prince's shack as the sun was starting to do its thing reinforced that even more for me...
I meant to also add - GREAT JOB to all the organizers and volunteers. Very impressive gathering, even at the crack of 11 - well organized, good peeps everywhere you stopped and talked or had a question, recycling and trash cans well placed, plenty of signage alerting you to parking, etc. An all around well-done event.
