The flavours of fall are definitely in full swing and it’s no secret that the Tastitude of this particular season are some of my favourite tastes of the year. Often hearty, earthy, a little fatty and always rich and satisfying it’s just the type of food you crave as the weather turns colder.
Inside of the broad range of foods that make up fall eats is a fun and delicious category of food that might not be so glaringly obvious to most but due to the time of year and the types of food you find on these weekend warrior type menus they are for sure a pertinent part of autumn’s deliciousness.
Otherwise known as “Gameday Grub” we prepare and share these foods with our friends and family as we gather to watch our favourite fall and winter sports like football and hockey. They are very much a part of the fall food family. Sometimes regarded as little more than snacks or appetizers they can be under rated but when you think about it they most certainly fit with what we perceive as cold weather fare.
Dishes like thick chilies and crispy fried wings, hearty sandwiches and rich dips along with many combinations of meats and potatoes are standard culinary offerings as we sit to share our favourite sports.
They taste great, stick to your ribs, are easy to prepare and quite often require no utensils (maybe a few toothpicks and napkins). Just like any great eats quality ingredients are coupled with tongue inspiring seasonings and cooked in a variety of ways to produce irresistible flavour combinations that keep hungry fans satiated as the televised battles unfold on the big screen.
One of the best ways keep your game day food fanatics happy is to first know your fans. Once you have a good idea of what types of food might best please your armchair quarterbacks you can begin to map out all the plays you’re going the make from kitchen to table. You can elevate your game further by implementing some unexpected strategies.
By taking standard go to dishes and giving them some unique twists of your own design you can keep the opposition guessing.
Maybe you’ll make a curry chili, nachos made with smoked local cheese, charred wings with a little bourbon and sour cherry infused BBQ sauce or even a dip that goes way beyond artichokes and cream cheese.
No matter how you get your game on this weekend take some time to make your picks early so you can get a head start on formulating your culinary battle plans and use some of fall’s great flavours to feed some serious game day sized appetites. Here’s a recipe that will help you meet the trade deadline, keep you under the salary cap and be sure to give you a win this weekend. Game on!
– Chef House
Chef House’s Fried Chicken and Waffle Sliders
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 3″ pieces 1 cup AP flour 2 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp paprika 1 cup buttermilk 1 egg lightly beaten 1 cup panko Vegetable oil, for frying 12 small homemade waffles made with a ¼ pour of batter Maple syrup, for drizzling 2 tbsp melted butter
In a medium bowl, combine flour and spices. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and buttermilk. Pour panko into a third bowl. Working in batches, dredge chicken tenders in the flour mixture then dip in buttermilk mixture. Finally, toss in panko for the final dredge.
Meanwhile, pour about 2” vegetable oil into a large, deep skillet. Heat over medium heat until the oil reaches about 350F. Cook the chicken in two batches, flipping the chicken once during cooking, approximately 3 -4 minutes per side. Place the fried chicken tenders on a cooling rack lined with paper towels. Lightly season with salt directly out of the fryer.
Brush toasted waffles with melted butter. Top the half of the waffles with fried chicken and drizzle with maple syrup. Top with the remaining waffles and lightly drizzle again.
***Top your sliders with anything from your favourite cheese and apple slices to more traditional toppings like lettuce, tomato and mayo.***
