Big Shakes

Hot Chicken Update

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

I went for a second time to Hattie B’s, reportedly one of the premier places to get hot chicken in Nashville. For the uninformed, hot chicken is fried chicken that has spices on it that range from mild to rectally scarring (or at least that’s the way I understand it).

I started my hot chicken journey a couple of years back with a trip to Big Shakes, where I ordered the cry-baby version. No, I did not make that up. Yes, it was still hot enough to make me sweat.

This time, I upgraded from mild to medium.

I don’t foresee myself ever going any higher.

That’s about my limit for spiciness where you can still taste what you’re eating. And yes, it was goooooooood.

My next quest for hot chicken to complete the trifecta is Prince’s Hot Chicken on Nolensville Rd.

If you decided to try hot chicken for the first time, I recommend starting off on the low-end, unless you already know you’re a fan of the spicy. I also suggest making sure you have plenty of beverage handy. And napkins. And bread, if you can get it.

I give Hattie B’s two hot thumbs way up. Now all I need is the t-shirt that says, “I ate hot chicken at Hattie B’s and all I got was this lousy t-shirt (and a good meal).”

Generic Blog #1,814

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 2 Comments

franklincat

I couldn’t really think of a clever title, so I went with what you see above. Not my finest moment ever, but it’s better than having an Untitled Blog.

I made my usual trek to downtown Franklin. I visited all my usual haunts– McCreary’s Irish Pub, The Frothy Monkey, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (or as I like to refer to them, the perfect trifecta).

I deviated a bit from the usual routine. I decided to explore the street that has my favorite house in the world, Fair Street. I stopped over at the garden area of St. Paul’s and took a picture of their St. Francis statue. I don’t know why I like his statues so much. Maybe it’s that I too am a fan of all creatures great and small.

It was a bit like that scene from the movie Forrest Gump, only instead of running I was walking (although in the thick Middle Tennessee humidity I probably sweated the same amount).

I walked up to the end of Fair Street, cut over on 11th Avenue South, and continued up West Main Street all the way to Big Shakes Chicken and Fish. I don’t know how far that is in terms of mileage, but it felt like at least a mile and a half, maybe two.

I met a friendly grey cat who was very social and liked very much to be petted. For a brief moment, I considered abducting said cat and bringing him (or her) home. I’m sure the owner(s) would not have been pleased.

I saw several houses where I could be very comfortable (including one fixer-upper opportunity that would probably require someone more handy than me). I sweated a lot.

I met a few people actually out in their yards or sitting on their front porches. I waved and they waved back. We exchanged pleasantries. It was so Mayberry.

I think I’m over any desire to live in a big fancy house with all the amenities. I’d be very happy in a small cottage with a front porch and a small yard. And maybe a statue of St. Francis in there somewhere.

franklinhouse