How can fried chicken, and indeed fried catfish, be this good? How can something so fundamentally engraved in our national consciousness still have the capacity to surprise us, to progress beyond the conventional and break new ground? After all, we’re talking about chicken and fish, covered on breading and then deep fried. It isn’t rocket surgery or brain science. In fact, there’s a deep history behind the skills.
“The art of Kettle-Cooking dates back to the colonial days, when our ancestors prepared perfectly seasoned comfort meals in piping hot fireplaces,” they say on their website. “Honey’s Kettle was built on those special traditions when families and friends gathered around delicious food and lots of laughter. Our founder Vincent Williams, or ‘Chef Vinny’ as they call him – has cooked more fried chicken than anyone on the planet. With nearly 50 years’ experience perfecting the crispy, golden goodness of Honey’s Kettle Fresh Fried Chicken, he is redefining the lost art of Kettle-Cooking.”
Chef Vinny might be some sort of a fried chicken genius. The man is a magician, taking a simple flour mixture and turning it into aromatic, herbed and spiced perfection.
We opted for the Catfish Combo when we went in on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, the SoCal sun peeking through but a breeze offering sweet respite. We weren’t in need of ice-cream refreshment on that summer day, but rather some comforting sustenance. The combo meant that we could try a few different items, and we were all the better for it.
The combo is composed of a generous piece of fried catfish, a piece of chicken of your choice, two hush puppies, fries, and your choice of coleslaw or macaroni salad.
We chose a chicken thigh – this writer’s preference has always been for the tastier, juicer leg and thigh meat. As one would probably expect, the meat was fried beautifully, retaining its natural juices while crispy on the outside. The coating is so good that the temptation is to peel off the skin and eat it like a chip. Resist that – take a bite of the honey-sweet skin and flesh together.
The fries are crispy and well seasoned, while the hush puppies are fluffy with the perfect crunch. We chose the tart coleslaw over the added carb of macaroni salad, and the balance of the vinegar and cabbage with the fried meat is inspired.
The catfish was even better than the chicken, somehow. The fish tasted fresh and, despite the bold flavors in the coating, the natural flavor isn’t drowned out.
“As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on preparing mouth-watering meals that create meaningful moments with the people you love,” they say. We can vouch for that.
Honey’s Kettle Fried Chicken is located at 9537 Culver Blvd., Culver City 90232. Contact 323-396-9339 or visit honeyskettle.com.