Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
Wearing a face mask can be dangerous. This is not going to be some rant about the social effects of mask wearing on young children or the concerns of breathing in your own germs. This is not a political or a medical blog. The most I’ll say is that I am still on the side of mask wearing when appropriate and required.
However, I have first hand experience on the dangers of wearing a face mask immediately after eating a spicy sandwich. My lips have never burned so much in my life. I literally felt like I was breathing fire… into my own face.
I recently missed the crowds at super popular Rowdy Rooster by visiting during a weekday lunch. I was able to quickly order one of their Indian fried chicken sandwiches.
It’s pretty exciting to try this for the first time. We have Japanese fried chicken, Korean fried chicken, Southern fried chicken, but as far as I know this is the first dedicated business in New York making Indian fried chicken. And it’s about damn time!!
The team behind great local Indian restaurants Adda and Dhamaka just opened a small takeaway spot in the East Village. They sell boneless and bone-in fried chicken in a range of five spice levels along with a handful of gut-busing sides.
The Li’l Rowdy is a genius sandwich of two boneless thighs (there is also a bigger Big Rowdy option) sandwiched between a buttery biscuit-like pao. It’s also slathered with irresistible mint chutney, cooling scallion yogurt, and pickled onion.
Now onto the chicken itself. I was warned about the no-joke spice levels, so I didn’t go with the top option. I did take a leap by picking the second hottest, known as Rogue. It was no joke. The juicy thigh meat was injected with a dizzying array of spices and peppers. I have no idea what goes into it but it’s spicy and incredibly satisfying. Especially when paired with the buttery bun and the contrasting sauces.
It was a flavor party with a whole lot of spice. I loved it, but then as I went about the rest of my day visiting stores, I kept putting on my mask and kept reliving the pain. In fact, the mouth heat got even more intense for the next half hour or so. I was expecting heartburn but had not anticipated the face burn. Seriously, be careful!! Price: $7
| ROWDY ROOSTER |
| 149 First Avenue (between East 9th and East 10th Street), East Village |
| rowdy rooster |
