The Rudi Tender Shack - Springdale, AR

Special treat for you this week. One my favorite things and my wife's favorite things to do is make homemade tenders and fries. Yes I know. Shocker isn't it? Our fryer recently went out on us and we ordered a new one. We were extra excited about this new fryer because it has a oil drainage system in the bottom. You can drain your oil after each use and wash the container and basket and then fill it back up. Very cool. Check out this bad boy.......

Nice isn't it?


The Rudi Tenders:

We always do different combinations on the seasoning on these. This time we did paprika and greek seasoning mixed up with the flour.
And the end product looked like............

THIS!

They turned out perfect. Light breading and yes it's the kind that falls off the chicken tender when you take a bite.

Very juicy. We were thrilled with the end product. I love new fryers!

8 out of 10 clucks (I've still got some tweaking to do)

Rudi Fries:

Hand cut idaho potatoes. I blanched them for the very first time. That's where you drop them for 2 minutes and then pull them out for a minute and then drop them again to finish them. And they turned out like this......

 Cooked evenly throughout fry and nice and crispy. I added some Old Bay seasoning during the blanching process and then put it on after they were finished cooking as well. Tasted so so good. Robyn said both tasted fantastic and were the best I've done yet. :)


8 out 10 fries (Same as above, more to tweak and learn)

If you would like to try them please call for reservations.

Sugar Bowl Fan Fest - Chicken On A Stick Booth- New Orleans, LA

One more stop in Louisiana country. At the Sugar Bowl Fan Fest in Champions Square outside the Superdome they had a concert, bars, and all kinds of food booths a few hours before the game. We made our way down there from Bourbon Street about 4:00 a few hours before kickoff. Very well put on event. The best pre-game bowl atmosphere and bowl game festivities I've even been to and I've been to all of them. Except the Las Vegas Bowl. Glad I missed that horrible game.

So anyway I was a beverage run for the guys and I come across a stand with a sign that says "Chicken On A Stick." For reals. I LOVE chicken on a stick. It goes all the way back to my Pine Bluff days. There was a Shell gas station that had chicken on a stick. Large boneless breast fillets on a stick. Mmmmm good. Here she is.............

Not even close to being as large as the Bluffs stick. Served luke warm with pretty heavy batter on both sides. Okay taste just not enough of it. Needed seasoning. You think I would have some left from the 4 alarm fire I had in mouth from the day before. Nope.

5 out of 10 clucks

Vieux Carre Chicken Wings & Tenders - New Orleans, LA

My friend Dave and I flew down to New Orleans last week to watch the Hogs give the game away to the Buckyes last week. As we were walking down St. Louis street one of the many side streets that connect with Bourbon Street my friend Dave said "Hey you have to do a review while you are here." Actually he said it with a little slur. :)
He then points out this little place called Vieux Carre Wingery. It's a very small little walk in restaurant with a very small area to eat. So I decided to get some to go as an appetizer for our upcoming dinner.

You get a 5 piece for $5.75. Not bad. They were large hand battered tenders. You can actually watch the guy dip them in the flour and seasoning as you order them. He put a ton of seasoning on them. I asked them what it consisted of and he just said "secret cajun recipe." Ohhhhhhh okay.
Well let me tell you it was one hot and very spicy receipe. My mouth and lips were on fire as we walked to our next stop. They were tasty though. Just hot. Damn hot.

8 out of 10 clucks

No fry on the side on this little adventure.

I hope we are back next year in the Sugar Bowl. If we are it means we will be playing in the national championship. Go Hogs!