Nashville,TN — Hot Chicken is the Nashville specialty that promises to hurt so good. Originally cooked as a revenge dish by a jealous girlfriend, this is a meal that never fails to get a big reaction.
“There's been times when folks will have one bite and drop it and run to the bathroom or run to the counter and beg for some milk,” laughs Hattie B’s manager Perry Chen.
Hattie B’s offers chicken on a scale of six heat levels — Southern (no heat), mild, medium, hot, damn hot and Shut the Cluck Up.
To face the heat, host Saint Bryan called upon an old friend from Duvall, WA, Nashville songwriter Austin Jenckes.
The season 5 contestant on The Voice has recently been selected by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know”.
Jenckes may be hot, but this is different kind of heat. To warm things up, they try “Hot” first.
“The spice on top of the chicken, that's got a kick, and it's kicking me right now,” said Saint who tried to cool things down with quick breaths.
“I keep thinking it's going to go away but it's not going away,” said Jenckes.
The next level is “Damn Hot”.
“The heat starts here in my belly and works its way up to the mouth and then moves across,” said Saint who then lost his voice and had to wave his hands in defeat.
“I definitely feel like crying right now,” admitted Jenckes. “Trying to hold back the tears.”
Only Austin Jenckes had the nerve to try the ultimate piece of Hot Chicken, Shut the Cluck Up.
“The side of my lips right here are just numb and now I feel like my tongue's going to fall out,” said Jenckes.
“It's almost like we've gone to war together,” said Saint.
“Yeah”, laughed Jenckes. “We're always going to have this bond.”
Travel provided by Alaska Airlines, accommodations provided by Hotel Preston. Watch Evening weeknights at 7:30 on KING-TV Ch. 5 or streaming live on KING5.com. Connect with Evening via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Email.
