Plate 'N' Playlist: February 2019

Dance Like Everybody's Watching!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

It's almost time... we just can't wait to "swing" into spring. So in these cold days of winter, we thought that we would bring you a little something to warm you up, some sunshine, a smile and something to look forward to.

This week we are featuring our friend, Louisiana Grill Master Chris Villar. He was kind enough to share his "Louisiana Hot Wing" recipe with us... so get those grills fired up.

And to get you "In The Mood" we've put together some "Swingin' Tunes" and of course a nice little Scotch and Soda cocktail.

We're so hot we're Smokin'... The Pots Are On!

The Plate...

Swinging Hot Wings

Ok, Swing this... these are some of the best wings you will ever put in your mouth; smoky, crispy, with a little heat and just plain awesome. Besides, all the cool chicks dig em'!

According to Grill Master Chris-"It's more in the grilling technique than anything"!

What you need...

4-5 lbs chicken wings / tips removed (save for stock)

1.5 bottles/18oz of "Crystal" hot sauce (no substitutes)

2-3 tbsp of olive oil

the zest and juice of 3 lemons (be sure to zest first... we've been over this)

2-3 jalapeños or serrano peppers / diced

2 sweet onions / small dice

7-8 cloves of garlic / minced

Salt & Pepper to taste

What you do...

Mix the hot sauce, olive oil, lemon zest/juice, peppers, onion, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
Divide the wings into 2 or 3 ziplock bags with equal amounts of the ingredient mix in each bag. Shake em up to distribute the marinade. Refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.

Set your grill to medium heat with a hot and cool side... for indirect and direct grilling. Bring the wings up to room temperature. Now put them on the grill on the "cool" indirect side for about 15 minutes. You are looking to render a lot of the water and fat, but they will not have a lot of color.

Then transfer to the "hot" side for to direct cooking to essentially "mark" the chicken and bring up to the color you like. (the "Wing Man" likes them Mahogany.)

Take the wings off the grill. Garnish with parsley or chives if you like. Now you're Swinging!

Special thanks to our Wing Man - Chris Villar

The Playlist...

Go Daddy O

You just can't help but smile and have a little pep-in-your-step when you're listening to some good 'ol Swing. As usual, we have some new, some old and some you may have not heard of... yet.

Check out one of Chris's favorite bands "Indigo Swing" and their song Red Light! Very Nice!... or maybe, New Orleans on Preservation Hall doing "Shake That Thing".

Or just pull up the playlist, put it on shuffle and crank it up!

The "Playlist" runs on Spotify-Click on the link to listen Go Daddy O

The Mix...