In just a few years, East Nashville's annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival has grown from a neighborhood poultry party to an event that draws thousands every July 4 to East Park. What's not to love (except maybe those blazing July temperatures)?
The great atomic bird is our unique civic delicacy, capable of curing colds, boredom, the blues, chills, and any desire you've ever had to settle for KFC. And now, instead of just one day celebrating the flaming fowl, we're getting 30.
Starting June 4, the festival is joining with more than 30 restaurants representing Nashville Originals to present Hot Chicken Days: 30 Ways to Feel the Burn, an event spotlighting hot chicken in all its forms. Every day brings a new variation on the fiery specialty at a different locale, giving some of Nashville's hottest chefs a chance to put their spin. If you're one of those people who carries a tub of Clorox wipes into Prince's, you can nibble a devil-red drumstick at a white-tablecloth joint with pinky daintily extended.
Let this graph from the Hot Chicken Festival website crow its siren song:
To tempt the palate, some of the dishes offered will include: Quail Wings with Habanero Kaffir Dust, Cruze Farms Buttermilk Ranch, White Bread Pudding, Pickled Radishes at ChaCha; Bacon Wrapped Hot Chicken stuffed with Cappicola at Wild Iris; Gorgonzola Crusted Thai Chili Chicken Wing, Krystaled Red Potatoes, Cornichon Chow Chow, Crispy Celery Leaves at Holland House. Cabana will be serving up Jalapeno-Marinated Hot Chicken with Bacon Waffles and Pickled Green Tomatoes. Tayst will add Hot Pickled Chicken: Fried Pickled Chicken Chips served with Celery and American Dressing to their menu. Copper Kettle will serve Sweet and Spicy Southern Fried Chicken and Sweet and Spicy Southern Fried Chicken Salad. Finally, patrons will even be able to participate during casual lunches at places like Noshville which is offering a Spicy Chicken Melt, Spicy Chicken Salad Sandwich and a Spicy Chicken Avocado, Bacon Club Sandwich on their menu for the month.
Full release below.
