Photo Courtesy of Alissa Fleck

By Alissa Fleck

Country Brunchin’ at the Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg is easily one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done in the City. It’s also just the latest variation on the Brooklyn theater/restaurant’s weekend brunch series, celebrating the “sweet sweet South and all its goodness.”

This event is 100% ideal for people whose attention spans are best suited to imbibing multiple forms of overlapping entertainment with little-to-no lull in the action. The excitement begins as soon as audience members file into the cozy dinner theater, where a live band mingles relevant tunes with casual small talk.

This past weekend, the Gentleman Callers, a “60s-era country classics” band, set the mood, rocking out with mariachi tunes against a backdrop of grindhouse Western clips. When the band was finished, the house dimmed the lights, and served up delicious Southern fare (in addition to the usual menu) while Smokey and the Bandit played on the big screen.

Each brunch features a different Southern-style special, whipped up just for the occasion. This weekend it was mouthwatering chicken-fried steak and, fittingly, a can of Coors Light. The menu also boasts unique concessions, extravagant desserts and several vegetarian options.

One of the most incredible things about Country Brunchin’ was how smoothly the shindig went down. When a live band meets food served in the dark, you might expect hiccups, or at least a drunken Coors Light-fueled ruckus, but everything went off without a hitch, and each aspect was incredible. The Gentleman Callers even managed to work in the film’s theme song, performed impromptu alongside an audience member celebrating one heck of a birthday party at the venue. Nitehawk has this event down from Coors to curtain, and I will definitely be back next month.

Country Brunchin’ takes place the first weekend of every month for $16. Each weekend features a different “high octane, emotionally moving, six shootin’, car chasin’, down and dirty [movie] set below the Mason Dixon line,” with a unique and appropriate culinary special.

By Shani R. Friedman

Many fried chicken devotees believe that you have to travel south of the Mason-Dixon Line or north to Harlem to have your bird cooked as God intended. Chef Charles Gabriel, of Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken fame, brings a little of that Southern flair to Midtown’s Aretsky’s Patroon with his latest creation. On Friday nights for a fixed $25, diners feast on three pieces of chicken, two sides and dessert, with live jazz accompaniment.

Get your soul food fix at Patroon Friday nights, with live jazz accompaniment.

I’d postponed eating there until my friend was able to come, so by the time we finally met up, I was practically drooling. She, with a Southern family, considers herself a soul food connoisseur with strong opinions on how it should be cooked. Fortunately for us, judging by the unobtrusiveness of the restaurant’s Gibson Room, the emphasis is clearly on the food. Even the musical interludes from the piano player and bassist receded into the background.

I deliberated over the sides because, really, how can you choose between macaroni and cheese, candied yams, black-eyed peas and collard greens? I went healthy with the peas but then killed the whole notion by ordering the macaroni and cheese. My friend opted for the greens and yams.

The chicken was moist, juicy and meaty, and the pieces were well sized. But onto the true test: the skin. Instead of being heavily breaded, it was thin and crispy with a little spice. Following my tablemate’s lead, I tried the chicken with hot sauce, which was a novel way for me to eat it. I liked it that way, but the bird had more than enough seasoning for my tastes without the extra kick. Though a tough critic, my friend gave the signature dish strong marks. She was less won over by the sides, saying the kitchen should use more butter for the yams and add cinnamon and nutmeg. She also wanted more heat in the greens. The macaroni was light on cheese, which worked for me because we were eating such heavy foods. I stuffed myself on that and the peas so that I could have some leftover chicken and cornbread to savor at home.

Dessert was banana pudding. It was small and light after a big meal, which was definitely a good idea. But for me, a Southern dinner ends with peach cobbler, so hopefully the menu will have at least two items featured for summer.

Now that I have tasted the legendary Charles Gabriel chicken, I must head uptown to Harlem. Life is too short for just a one-night-a-week indulgence.

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Aretsky’s Patroon
160 E. 46th St.
Between Lexington and Third avenues
212-883-7373
Fried chicken dinner: $25

Photo by Daniel S. Burnstein

The palpable buzz is what made me think of an Apple store, along with the number of staff milling around. Yet, when you see images of chicken behind the cashier, you think: “All this for fast food?”

Fans of Korean fried chicken greeted Kyochon’s opening with fanfare and blog posts. Never having sampled Bonchon chicken or other rivals, I had no expectations for my order of soy-garlic glazed signature wings ($5.99/five pieces). As I waited for the square buzzer given to me when I ordered to vibrate, and for a male in a striped porkpie hat to bring me my food, the manager explained a process involving thin batter, canola oil, double-frying, fresh young chickens and individualized glazing. Biting into a wing, I knew everything I needed to know; this chicken is sticky, crunchy, garlicky, salty/sweet. Addictive.
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Kyochon
350 Fifth Avenue
(at 32nd Street)
212-696-0150

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