Once
again I am checking off something from my 2015 to do list (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015/03/for-year-5-2015-2016-to-do-list.html).
This time it was a restaurant in Brooklyn that has developed quite a following.
Buttermilk Channel opened in November 2008 with Chef Ryan Angulo previously of
The Stanton Social (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/04/for-french-onion-soup-dumplings-stanton.html),
a very dear favorite of mine, which coincidentally I will be revisiting again
soon.
This
restaurant is on a quiet street in downtown Brooklyn taking up the corner spot.
There were a bunch of tables outside for when the weather finally warms up.
From the outside you wouldn’t even notice the address or name of the
establishment until you are right in front of it. There in the window and on
the banners down below is the name, simply, plainly, calmly. There is no show
boating and that tone would be the same inside.
Upon
walking through a lavender draped curtain you enter the world of Brooklyn’s
notorious chicken and waffles. This is the only place I know of in Brooklyn
that offers this special pairing. It is a pairing I am always in favor of.
There are a few classic restaurants that make this meal a standard of food
lovers everywhere. It was time I tried the version closest to home.
Every
time I hear about this restaurant the words immediately following are that
describing the chicken and waffles and that I have to try them. I knew that I
would whenever I did go. I saw more pictures of this meal and rave reviews for
as long as I can remember. It was the sole reason for my visit.
I was
early for my reservation but that wasn’t a problem. My table was ready and
waiting for me. They had a few people already seated and plenty more would be
following. By the end of my time there the whole place was packed. The people I
passed had big smiles on their faces. They knew they were in for a good time.
The whole
place is nice and relaxed. The décor while charming isn’t over done. The
lighting was perfect and the waiters calmly walked food back and forth. When
you visit a restaurant that gets this volume of traffic it can rub off into the
atmosphere. That was not the case here at all. I loved it. The staff was
amazing and I even loved the trendy hipster bartender. I felt like I was in a
movie in the best possible way.
Since I
had read up before my reservation I knew besides my entrée that I wanted to try
the homemade pickles. I have a general affinity for pickles and I couldn’t
resist seeing what these homemade ones would taste like. Evidently I also feel
this way about olives too (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2014/12/for-pizza-done-robertas-way.html).
The first
thing to arrive to our table was the bread. Here you get honey, sea salt
garnished popovers. They were atypical for sure but I liked getting something
that was a signature to this restaurant and not the standard day old bread you can get just anywhere. Mine went
down without a hitch.
When
these pickles were placed on my table I dug right in. I am obsessed with the
light green long ones (spheres) that usually taste like a cucumber when you see
them in a diner. So that’s the one I reached for but the taste caught me by
surprise. It was tangy with a hint of spice I didn’t recognize. That didn’t
stop me from having another one. However the chip shaped ones were way too
bitter for me to get down. Plus there was so many, I guess for a party of three
we really needed a half of order, oh well.
My fried
chicken did look pretty when it arrived. I was also starving at that point so I
couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the perfect bite of both chicken and
waffle. The waffle seemed so small next to the three large pieces of chicken I
received.
The
waffle was described as a cheddar waffle but I didn’t taste the cheddar at all.
The waffle was however delicious and vanished quickly within a few bites. The
syrup that came with it was also delightful not too sweet or thick.
As for
the infamous chicken I got to say I was a little disappointed. It was spicy,
not traditional spicy but had a burning sort of sensation from whatever the
skin was seasoned with. As for the meat it was moist but I feel like the flavor
was off there too. It wasn’t falling right off the bone, with each bite I sort
of felt like I was forcing myself to eat it and enjoy it. It was good just not
in my top three experiences of all time. I have been and now I am done.
There was
also a side of coleslaw; you guessed it that was homemade too. It turns out
that is the best slaw I have ever had. It even surpasses any other kinds I had
loved in the past. I don’t know what it was about it; there was tang to it but
also a sweetness. The crunch was also on point. I ate my entire portion and
probably could again any day of the week.
My dining
companions had the burger and the grilled steak. Both said their meals were
okay but nothing out of the ordinary. Apparently I did order correctly.
For
desert, and there is always room for dessert; I had the goat cheese, cheesecake
with key lime marmalade. We also
tried the pecan pie sundae that Frank Bruni has a passion for. In his review of
Buttermilk Channel for the New York Times Bruni wrote: “Desserts that might be
$10 at less cost-conscious places are $7, a steal when it comes to the pecan
pie sundae, a blockbuster and gut buster as filling as it is irresistible.” In
any review I have read about this restaurant this sundae stands out. There
seems to be no one that can resist this original version of a southern staple.
I thought it was good but very sweet but better than any pie versions I have
had (with the exception of Hill Country).
My
cheesecake was the perfect serving size in a small mason jar. Instead of a
crust there were crumbles on top. This was a nice treat more savory than sweet.
The goat cheese they used is probably the purest version I have ever had. In a
larger serving size it would have been too much. But this size cleansed my
palette.
The only
other place I have had fried chicken and waffles was back in 2012 at the
original Queen of Soul Food, Sylvia’s restaurant (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/10/for-sylvias-queen-of-soul-food.html)
in Harlem, New York. When it comes to the fried chicken and waffles combo I
pick Sylvia’s over Buttermilk Channel even though the latter’s waffle was
better the meal as a whole was better at the former.
When it
comes solely to fried chicken in N.Y.C. I would go with Hill Country for flavor
and consistently. Blue Smoke used to be good but the last time I was there I
wasn’t impressed with the service or the food.
I have to
say my favorite, last supper quality, fried chicken sadly does not come from my
empire state. Rather it comes from the fried chicken promised land, Memphis. They
say, “If you haven’t been to Gus’s you haven’t had fried chicken”. I have to
agree. It’s the best I have ever had. The flavor, texture, crispy, and fall off
the bone meat will make you sit there until your burst open or they close their
doors, whatever comes first.
There are
two other fried chicken/waffle heavens I plan on going to, just not any time
soon. That is because one is in Atlanta, Georgia and the second is in Los
Angeles, California. In the ATL it is Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles
Concepts. The one in L.A. is of course Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles.
These places have been around forever and are legends in their cities as well
as for us foodies who like to travel.
According
to their website, the name “Buttermilk Channel” is a historical reference to
the water between Brooklyn and Governors Island. The legend is that long ago
farmers use to take a boat ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan in order to sell
their milk in another borough. Apparently the ride was so rough it could churn
the milk into butter.
Now if
they could make fried chicken appear on my dining room table before I even
crave it that would be something to write home about.
For More
Information:
For More
Fried Chicken:
http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2013/08/for-fried-chicken-with-side-of-pie-hill.html
This restaurant,named as buttermilk channel is a,well known restaurant of Brooklyn. My friend was been there as he was praising this place a lot and today after reading your article I too wanna visit.
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