Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Drizzled Honey and Lemon

Sorry for my lack of posts in the past couple days folks, but I've been really busy! Every year around this time, for some reason, times starts to fly by. It seems like yesterday I was wondering around Soho and waiting for new years to make its way and now, it's February already and I have an never-ending list of To-Do's - which is always a good excuse to get over-priced notepads to jot down things down and hang them on the fridge (where else would I never forget to look?), although, that's quite besides the point! Being uber busy isn't a bad thing really, especially since I've always been the type to be most productive the more there is to be done.. it's a sort of adrenaline thing, really.

All to say, that I have been cooking, and haven't forgotten you, just trying to manage my time! This buttermilk chicken was a weekend treat, well worth the time it took to brine the chicken. Thank you Thomas Keller! The chicken was moist and flaky and the fried coating perfectly seasoned and crisp. I'm definitely no expert on fried chicken (not exactly a Parisian's girl Saturday night ritual!) but it was delicious. We served it with a fresh spinach salad with roasted almonds, and drizzled honey and lemon over the fried deliciousness. It was quite the treat!

Let me say a few words about Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc. First off it's really, really a beautiful book. It's one of those coffee table books you can pick up at any time of the day and read just to learn more about the cooking process. The text is beautifully written and will echo in the minds of everyone who has a true passion about cooking. The explanations are clear and honest and meant to make us all better cooks, at home. A lot of what Keller writes is a shortened version of what I learned at culinary school, which makes me smile because it reminds me of the first time I stepped into a professional kitchen, and how utterly clueless, excited and nervous I was. The recipes are really written for the home cook to improve, learn from his/her mistakes and have fun in the kitchen. My only problem is that the book is quite hefty and not that easy to have next to you in the kitchen especially if you like keeping books out of the kitchen war zone!


Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Drizzled Honey and Lemon
Adapted from Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc
Makes 24 Pieces

Brine:
24 cups water
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey
18 bay leaves
30 unpeeled garlic cloves, smashed
3 tablespoons of whole black peppercorns
5 large fresh rosemary sprigs
1 1/2 bunches fresh thyme sprigs
5 lemons, halfed
3 3 1/2 pound chickens

Frying:
6 cups all purpose flour
5 tablespoons garlic powder
5 tablespoons onion powder
4 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 teaspoons coarse kosher salt plus additional for serving
6 cups buttermilk
12 cups peanut oil (for deep-frying)
Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs (for garnish), deep-fried 30 seconds

Brine: Bring all brine ingredients to a boil in large pot (except the chicken). Boil for 1 minute, stirring to dissolve salt. Cool completely. Chill the brine until cold, about 2 hours.

Rinse chicken; add to brine, pressing to submerge. Chill at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Drain chicken and pat dry, removing any herbs or spices sticking to the skin. Cut each chicken into 8 pieces and lay on parchment-lined baking sheet for about 2 hours or until completely dry. Make sure the chicken is completely dry before frying or the water will spatter in the oil and it can be very dangerous!

Frying: Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix first 6 ingredients and 4 teaspoons coarse salt in large bowl. Place buttermilk in another large bowl. Dip each chicken piece in flour mixture to coat; shake off excess. Dip pieces in buttermilk, coating completely, then dip into flour mixture again, coating thickly (do not shake off excess). Place chicken on prepared sheets.

Pour peanut oil into heavy large pot. Attach deep-free thermometer to side of pot and heat oil over medium-high heat to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and 330 degrees Fahrenheit. Working in batches of 4 pieces at a time, add leg and thigh pieces to oil (use splatter screen to protect yourself from hot oil). Adjust heat as needed to maintain temperature. Fry until cooked through and skin is deep golden brown, turning once using wooden spoons, about 10-13 minutes. Using wooden spoons, transfer chicken to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with course salt.

Add breast pieces to oil and fry until cooked through and skin is deep golden brown, turning once, about 7 minutes. Transfer chicken to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with course salt.

Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Serve with a good drizzle of honey, a squeeze of lemon and fried rosemary. Enjoy!