A Comfy Biscuit is a Thing of Beauty .....

…. Welcome everyone!!! Just me still? Whatever ….

 

Today’s update is one I’m quite beside myself w. excitement to give. I woke up this morning and idled around in bed while sifting through my food list, trying to find a place to have lunch today. I thought about skipping it and going to Waffle House but hey, might as well get some work in on the weekends, right? I googled a few places, mulled a couple different food styles, and there … like a beacon of hope and deliciousness …was the name my soul had been searching for. Comfy Chicken typed right beside Home Grown on Memorial Drive …only about 20min from my house.

                It took me less then 15min to get pressed, dressed, and out the door. I was admittedly rushing because it was 12:45pm and they close at 2:00pm on Saturdays. Under the guidance of my GPS, I arrived promptly at 1:08pm …. To an overwhelmingly full parking lot across from a nifty community garden. I was lucky someone was leaving because it gave me a parking spot on the end up front …it was a sign! TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!!!! (Another story for another day) …. I wiggled out of my car and shuffled my way into the quaint little café that looked like it could be confused for that one neighbor’s house we all know that’s been there forever. I was not prepared.

This is about all I could see from my seat on the bench.....

The room was overwhelmingly crowded right off the bat. Didn’t these people know they closed in under an hour? Do they not care? A small handful of booths line the wall in the main dining room along with about 10 counter seats on the opposite sides. A little past the main room, a larger area to the left holds a few more tables and booths but all in all, it’s a pretty small place. I hate saying small, it’s intimate … cozy, quaint … homespun? Whatever …it’s kind of small. There were about 15 people waiting to be seated. A passed by the other patrons and approached the upbeat host taking names for upcoming seats. He told me it would be 10-15min but the counter was first come, first serve. I smiled and nodded as he wrote my name before saddling back over to wait my turn at the bench. I thought I saw a couple leaving so I jumped up to claim a bar seat but lost out to another couple who, to be fair, were there before me. I knew my turn was coming. I’m patient.  While I waited, I noticed a coffee setup to my right that a couple of customers helped themselves to. I’m not sure if that was for customer’s waiting to be seated or for all customers to self-serve who ordered coffee.

Bustling kitchen near the side door ... lovely,
lovely sounds of actual cooking !

 I rocked on my heels, absorbing the surroundings and environment as I waited for my turn at the counter. The décor is decidedly kitsch. It’s quirky and fun … upbeat and hipster all without being pretentious or overdone. The music playing through the building was an upbeat mix of 80’s pop with a bit of vintage from decades I can’t nail down thrown in. The staff hip swiveled to Mick Jagger mixes and “Take on Me” by Ah-Ha. The high notes sung enthusiastically by the male staff gathered around the cashier’s station between cashing out customers.  

A space opened and I sauntered my way up to the counter. The round seat swiveled solidly as I positioned myself comfortably close to the rest of the breakfast club. I can tell you that space is a premium but everyone respected everyone’s individual space when it came time to eat. You didn’t have to try cutting your food while tucking in your wings at this place!  

 The turnover is swift when someone stands up to leave …. efficiency is probably a big deal when you’re turning over the crowds that this place obviously does. One waiter gathered up the previous diner’s dishes and the other quickly wipes down the space to a spotless finish. I was handed a menu by a very nice waitress as she took my drink order with a smile. Admittedly, I didn’t peruse it much because I knew what I wanted. She returned quickly with my drink and I let her know that cozy chicken would be my entrée of choice. For good measure, I requested a salmon patty on the side.

She reassured me I made a good choice and was off to relay my order to the busy-bee kitchen I had observed off to the right coming in. I relaxed and observed my surroundings …. Taking in the full monty of properly quaffed greaser hairdos and groomed mustaches amidst the “Keep on Trucking” poster and “Black Crows” tour banner. The fridge is covered with bumper stickers from local joints (and not so local) and there is even a sign for a vintage consignment shop in the back room.

 

As I’m sitting there …. I hear a faint whisper to my right and I turn to see a display of tempting desserts that I was wholly unprepared for. Another patron was placing an order for coconut cake and I was just in awe. I mean, I had seen them peering through the cracks in the crowd when I came in but being this close … oh boy! The desserts are actually procured from a local bake shop ….and delivered fresh for our consumption. The selection was carrot cake, a beautifully tall and white coconut cake, a red velvet brownie, regular brownies, and even homemade pop tart like pastries. I caught my waitress in passing and begged her let me have a slice of coconut cake to go. I think she winked at me. She already knew what time it was. In the midst of her back and forth to tend to customers, she stopped long enough to slice me off a massive slab of this confectionary goodness and pack it away in a to-go container and set it nearby. 

It was only about 10min start to finish from the time of my order to this lovely plate of food being placed in front of me. Let me start off by saying, I need you to remove that judgement from your eyes right now …I won’t continue to until you do! This is not meant to be a pretty dish. This isn’t the cover of Food Snobs monthly and ain’t nobody got time for garnishes and linear plating of food. This was just some damn good food on a clean plate looking delicious.

The salmon patty is where I started, just to get it out of the way (for no other reason then I’m not here for the salmon patty) … I cracked it open and revealed that it’s full of salmon and seasonings without being full of breadcrumbs. The flavor was clean and perfectly seasoned. You can see the small dice of onions and other flavorings throughout. I would show up for this salmon patty with grits and maybe some eggs. Hell, I might feel like going home and making some salmon patties. I ate it with hot sauce and a smile. But again, we’re not here for salmon patties. 

Minimal filler, maximum flavor !

What IS comfy chicken? Comfy chicken is an open faced biscuit, made from scratch, with fried chicken and smothered in rich sausage gravy. I stared at it and took a deep breath before diving in. The biscuit yielded easily to my fork and the tender chicken was easily cut with my butter knife. I stabbed a small bite of each and ran it through the gravy for good measure. And let me tell you …. A comfy biscuit is comfort on a plate with every intent of taking up residence in your belly. 

This ... all of life is this !!!

 It’s a culinary hug from an auntie you ain’t seen in years …. It’s the proverbial quilt that your grandma wraps you in when you’re cold …. It’s everything comforting and warm and tasty. The gravy is full and rich without being salty or one dimensional … the chicken is crispy but soft and tender. It’s not a hard fry like you’d expect from KFC or Popeyes.

I think it’s been floured but not double-dipped. The biscuit is a work of art that reminds us all of why we live in the south. You can see the layers expertly created back in that kitchen you pass coming in the door. I imagined it would be even more delicious with the hot sauce on the counter but I couldn’t stop eating long enough to add any. I mean, damn, this was just good. I’ve eaten a lot of places that are world renowned or hyped up and I can never understand why …. this is one of the first places I’ve ate at that lived up to every ounce of hype I read prior to coming to. Even as I’m sitting there, I’m thinking about how this should be on Food Network …why has nobody called Guy Fieri and got them on D.D.D.?? (Coincidence, food network WILL be shooting there on Monday…look for it!) When I finished my plate … I resisted the urge to pick it up and lick it clean. It was a major temptation but I was able to overcome it.

My awesome waitress dropped off my check and then offered to run it down to the cashier for me because a bit of a line had formed due to the crowd checking out all at once. She said I would either wait standing or sitting so I might as well sit. Once I settled my (very reasonable) bill, I went through the additional dining room and ventured back to the consignment shop.

 I was in giddy awe as I looked through Care Bear glassware and vintage Samsonite luggage (FOR $24.00!!!) They had beautiful vintage picnic baskets and a bevy of other equally amazing finds. I resisted purchasing everything back there … even after an elderly gentleman sat down at the keyboard and began playing a lively tune as I window shopped. I felt no rush but eventually I knew I had to leave. They would be closing soon and I didn’t want to be THAT person. So I made my way back up front, smiled, and waved as I was instructed to “Have a nice day …. Come back again soon” …...I left feeling better then when I arrived, and sometimes … that alone is worth the drive.