Posts Tagged ‘detroit foods’

How Do I… Know When My Chicken is Done

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Ahhh, chicken.  It’s a staple at the dinner table because it’s high in protein, versatile and cost-effective.  You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a favorite chicken dish of some kind, be it fried, baked or barbecued.  While chicken allows a home cook to be adventurous, cooking it properly can sometimes be tricky.  There’s nothing worse than presenting your family with a beautiful looking bird, only to have them cut into a raw mess.  Or an overdone bird that’s so dry and tasteless, it’d be better suited as a paperweight.

So how do you know when your chicken is done?  Well, first it helps to know a few facts about the bird itself.  As we all know, chicken is made up of white and dark meat.  The leg and thigh are dark meat and have a lot of fat and connective tissue.  White meat consists of breasts and wings and has little to no fat.  When you’re planning your next chicken recipe, keep in mind that white and dark meat should be cooked quite differently. 

In general, you want to cook dark meat in a lot of liquid such as braising or stewing.  These methods will cook the proteins out and allow your meat to become soft.  White meat should be cooked using a quick, dry heat like sautéing, grilling or broiling.  Cooking white meat at a high heat will keep the chicken moist and give it the most flavor.  If you’re trying to watch your fat intake, you can still cook white meat with the skin on; just discard it later.  You haven’t lost any of the taste.  If you’re cooking white and dark meat together, put the dark meat in first to give it a head start.  Finally, if you plan to roast a whole bird, make sure to truss (the act of tying the legs together and tucking the wings close to the body) the bird first, so that it cooks uniformly.     

The absolute best way to know if your chicken is done is to use a meat thermometer. Don’t rely solely on juices running clear, although if you want to use that as a backup method, that’s fine.  Meat thermometers are inexpensive, readily available and a must-have in the kitchen.  For chicken, 140 degrees is ideal for doneness, although you’ll want to take the chicken off the heat just a touch before it reaches that temperature. Insert the thermometer into the end of a piece of meat, rather than the top, for a more accurate reading.  The reason you want to take the chicken off the heat is because you want to let it “rest.” Placing your chicken on a plate and cover it with aluminum foil for 15 minutes.  It will continue to cook while you finish the rest of the meal, but won’t overcook. The result will be moist, tasty chicken.

Armed with these tips, your next chicken dinner is sure to be a hit.  Enjoy!

Culinary Escapes, LLC - Unique Food Tours of Metro Detroit

www.culinary-escapes.com

Richard’s Hot Wings

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

This is little pub in Windsor, Ontario nestled in the downtown area.  We heard about this place from a business associate when mentioning our love of wings and all things spicy.  Well our friends in Windsor have a place know for their novelty “Crunchy Chicken” and wings that are hot enough to send you tongue bathing in the Detroit river.  Their “Crunchy Chicken” has a very unique breading that will make you reminisce about your childhood.  Their wings… well there is a seasoning that literally requires you to sign a waiver before eating.  If (and that is a big “if”) you finish the wings they are free.  Most surrender long before then.  You have been warned!  They also have an awesome take on a Bloody Mary that helps cool the wings heat.

GPS Coordinates: N 42 18.346   w 83 03.647

Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Use these hints IF you need them.

Hint # 1:  Between University of Windsor and Wilson Park
Hint # 2: South side of the street
Hint # 3: (Actual Street Address) 7614 jlnaaqbggr  Click here for a visual map.

Cypher for hint #3

A-N/B-O/C-P/D-Q/ E-R/F-S/G-T/H-U/I-V/J-W/K-X/L-Y/M-Z

1-6/2-7/3-8/4-9/5-0

Type of food: Pub food

Suggested Entré: Mild to Ridiculously Hot Chicken Wings, Crunchy Chicken,

Cost: modest, <$20

When to seek:  Sun-Thu 11:30 am – 9:00 pm, Fri-Sat 11:30 am – 10 pm

Tell us about your experience by leaving a comment below.

Culinary Escapes, LLC - Unique Food Tours of Metro Detroit

www.culinary-escapes.com

Antebellum Sushi

Friday, September 4th, 2009

SushiFor those who enjoy sushi, this destination is a jewel.  In the venue of a 1929 mansion designed around pre-Civil War architecture, this sushi bar and restaurant is set back from the road in a hidden section of Novi.   Elegantly decorated this mansion is frequently the setting for weddings and receptions.  Once you enter you can’t help but have your eyes drawn to the beautiful staircase.  Seating is on one several converted offices and parlors.  The bar is area beautifully tucked away behind a velvet curtain. 

GPS Coordinates: N 42 27.166, W 83 28.292 (Hints below for those without a GPS below)

Location:Novi, MI

Hint #1: The name means “White” in Japanese.

Hint #2: Look for the columns.

Hint #3: (Actual street address) 98635 Jrfg Avar Zvyr Ebnq Click here for a visual map.

Cypher for hint #3

A-N/B-O/C-P/D-Q/ E-R/F-S/G-T/H-U/I-V/J-W/K-X/L-Y/M-Z

1-6/2-7/3-8/4-9/5-0

Type of Food:  Sushi, Japanese

Suggested Entré:  BBQ Eel, and sake  (our favorites)

Expected Cost:  $35/person with drinks

When to Seek:

Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30 am ~ 2:30 pm
Dinner: Monday-Thursday 5:00 pm ~10:00 pm / Friday & Saturday 5:00 pm~10:30 pm
Sunday: Open for dinner 4:00 pm ~ 10:00 pm

Back to the GPS home page

 

Culinary Escapes Staff

Culinary Escapes, LLC - Unique Food Tours of Metro Detroit

www.culinary-escapes.com