How do you maintain the quality when most of your restaurants are franchise-owned? It is our #1 goal for you to leave happy. This takes around 10 minutes for wings and 12 minutes for thighs, legs, and breasts when frying chicken. Volume helps with that and efficiencies, operations and buying appropriately. McCrory:1) quality, 2) taking care of employees, 3) proper forecasting and budgeting. Hot and spicy fried chicken was a new addition to the menu at Guss Fried Chicken in West Tennessee. Fry at 325-350 F. Use a neutral vegetable or corn oil. In fact, in January 2001, GQ named Guss Fried Chicken one of the top ten meals in the United States worth flying for. ), the flesh is moist throughout. Repeat until all of the. Terry Bonner, the restaurants proprietor, says that the recipe for Guss famously spicy fried chicken dates back to 1953 and has been passed down through the family. Bake for 15 minutes then flip and bake for another 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 164 degrees. A spicy honey sauce makes these Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwiches irresistible. The restaurant is known for its Southern-style fried chicken, which is available in both original and spicy flavors. Heat until thermometer reads 350 over medium-high heat. The Mason location, which opened in 1993, is the first to sell hot and spicy fried chicken in West Tennessee. in Memphis, it was love at first bite. The original Gus's was owned by a black man. Terry Bonner, the restaurant's proprietor, says that the recipe for Gus's famously spicy fried chicken dates back to 1953 and has been passed down through the family. Food blogger Claire Thomas re-creates her favorite fried chicken sandwich from Son of a Gun in Los Angeles. Crispy and golden brown, this will be the best fried chicken you've ever made. | Memphis, TN 38126, Should You Refrigerate Leftover King Arthur Gluten Free Cornbread Mix? Sales at mammoth KFC, by contrast, grew by a mere 0.4%. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. Not true. The history of the restaurant, hanging near the counter, suggests that the recipe was so well-liked that, even in the Jim Crow South, white people lined up at his back door for a sack of chicken and encouraged him to open a restaurant. Carefully pound each chicken breast half flat so that it is the same thickness; you want it flat but not torn (each chicken piece should be about the size of your hand or slightly smaller). The Mason location, which opened in 1993, is the first to sell hot and spicy fried chicken in West Tennessee. Take chicken pieces out of buttermilk mixture one at a time. The tangy and creamy potato salad is a great side to balance the heat of the chicken. If you've ever had really good Korean fried chicken, that is similar to the Gus's recipe. John Lasater married into theBishopfamily in nearby Franklin that owned a successful restaurant, experimented with and popularized a hot chicken recipe at the Bishop Meat and Three restaurant, and received financial support from the Bishop family to launch the Hattie Bs chain. Claire claims the meat is so tender its as if its been poached. You may find easy, medium, and hard Gus Fried Chicken recipes by using the filters to refine your search based on variables like the number of people the recipe serves, the number of calories in each serving, and the length of time you have to make the meal. Your email address will not be published. Cook thighs and drumsticks for 8 minutes (wings for 5) or until deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 75C/167F at the thickest section. Napoleon and Maggie Vanderbilt began perfecting their version of hot fried chicken more than 60 years ago and opened their own restaurant featuring the dish on Highway 70 in 1973. Flour the chicken, being care to fully coat each piece, and then roll it in the flour. Place the chicken on the hot baking sheet, skin side down. This is Gus's world famous Fried Chicken from Memphis Tennessee. Shake to blend gently. The chain was started in Mason, Tennessee about 60 years ago by Napoleon Vanderbilt, whose son Vernon Gus Bonner, assumed the recipes and launched Guss in 1984. Surprise your family or coworkers with the best hot & spicy chicken youll ever taste! is AWESOME. Remove the marinated chicken from the refrigerator and using your hands massage the chicken pieces again so that the chicken pieces are coated well. In a large plastic bag, combine flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Gus As soon as the oil is very hot, add the largest pieces of chicken first, skin side down. So, I tried out a couple of copycat But you need more than a pressure fryer to make True Broaster Chicken. In a large plastic bag, combine flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. As new stores open, their revenue starts off high and then after a couple of months it falls off. That way we keep our recipe and everything still tastes like the original, she said. Whats happened in Nashville makes me wonder about the expansion of black-owned Guss World Famous Hot and Spicy Fried Chicken from its small start in Mason, Tennessee. Bonner runs the Mason location and is married to Terry, one of the restaurants co-owners. Only sonVernon Gus Bonner inherited the business when his parents died and renamed the restaurant after himself in 1984. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and 1/2 cup water. The chicken is dredged in a secret blend of spices before its fried to perfection, and its always served hot and fresh. The chicken parts should be washed and barely dried. Set a wire rack within a sizable baking sheet with a rim in the meantime. As of March 2020, there are 30 locations in 14 states across the United States. In a 9x13x2 pan, combine flour, cornstarch, the last tablespoon of salt, and the last tablespoon of pepper "baking pan. Guss model for growth has been franchising. Not fast food - quality food, served fast. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. To keep warm until the remainder of the chicken is cooked and you are ready to serve, place in a warm oven (about 200 degrees). Now living in Nashville, Claybon was born and raised in Mason. Give the chicken an hour to stand covered at room temperature. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This Montana joint does fried chicken right with their red-rubbed, buttermilk-battered bird. Terry Bonner, the owner of Gus's Hot and Spicy Fried Chicken, reveals that the recipe for his chicken originated in 1953. . If youre looking for an unforgettable fried chicken experience, make sure to try Guss World Famous Fried Chicken. Its a cold, but sunny, afternoon in February and he and his brother Larry are sitting in a booth, watching television as they socialize with other men in the restaurant and eat some of the world-famous fried chicken and drink beer. The mac n cheese and beans were also delicious. If it isn't spicy enough, "salt" with Tony Chachere creole seasoning. Guss is very high quality chicken; we hand-cut every single piece before it is hand-battered and fried to order. I had just come across and met several people that I felt would be good franchisees. Repeat the procedure with the remaining chicken pieces. It was founded in the tiny town ofMason, Tennessee. Maggie and Na continued to serve their community until their deaths, in 1982 and 1983 respectively. Ive tried a lot of fried chicken in my time and grew up with a grandma who made it from scratch on Sundays but oh my goodness, Guss fried chicken is some of the best Ive ever had!!! Bonner said her nieces, though they are all employed elsewhere, run the restaurant on the weekends, the third generation of Guss and the fourth since the original restaurant. A classic Nashville chicken has a complex, multilayered crunch that maintains its integrity even after a day or two in the refrigerator. Theres no doubt, their fathers father, who died on July 24, 2007, and grandfather are surely proud of the legacy theyve left and of the way Guss has grown. But for those who like their chicken with a little kick, Guss is the perfect spot. Use spices to season chicken. McCrory: I think we will have between 10 and 14 more stores. (Note 6). Walk into a Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, and yoll find walls adorned with vintage and neon signs, beloved classics humming in the jukebox, tables covered in blue and red checkerboard, and plates full of some of the very best fried chicken yove ever tasted. Try your best to buy a 2.5-3 lb chicken. Clean a 3-1/2-pound chicken and cut it into eight pieces. A large skillet should have about 1/4 inch of oil in it. KFC is fast-food while Guss is a full-service restaurant with wait service and that sells liquor. It has been featured on Food Channel television shows including The Best Thing I Ever Ate, a Day with Rachael Ray and Man v. Food. Princes has been offered opportunities to both sell the recipe and sell the business in addition to partner with other entrepreneurs. Guss World Famous Fried Chicken is among the recipients of the 2019 Experts Choice Award, TripExpert announced today. This boardwalk eatery serves you tasty sandwiches, cold beer, and hot fries. Depending on the size of the chicken pieces and the precise temperature of your oil, cook the fried chicken for 12 to 25 minutes, or until it is thoroughly golden brown and the white meat reaches 160F (71C) or 175F (79C) for the dark meat. As Gus once quipped, This is a dead mans recipe [and] I aint telling.. Traditional sides include cole slaw, KFC-style potato & gravy, grilled or steaming corn, soft rolls or cornbread, fries, and southern baked beans. Breading was the first thing we noticed. While the chicken is brining, combine the flour, cornstarch, black pepper, paprika, cayenne, baking powder, salt, and water in a large bowl by whisking or stirring until combined. Rub in with your fingers to make several lumpy pieces the size of peas throughout (this creates extra super crunchy craggy bits). This recipe takes the online copy cat recipe for Gus's fried chicken that calls for a dredging flour and mixes all the ingredients together to make a wet marinade/batter as shown on the Food Channel episode. Serve with potato topped with gravy and French fries for the ultimate at-home KFC experience. Kevin Steek Cooper, a chef from Drexel Hill, won Guy Fieris Guys Chance of a Lifetime, in which he and six other hopefuls competed for the opportunity to open a Chicken Guy franchise. Nas only son, Vernon Gus Bonner, inherited Maggie and Nas priceless recipe and the restaurant they worked so hard to build, literally from the ground up. Gus Fried Chicken has been a Memphis institution since 1952. With switched-up ingredients and creative twists, these popular variations elevate the classic from familiar to fabulous. It should be ready for frying if it bubbles all around the spoon. Super Crispy Fried Chicken made with buttermilk, chicken, hot sauce, and seasoned flour is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside! View jonathan.cole1s profile on Facebook. Boltons, 400, Helens Hot Chicken, Pepperfire, and many others. Use spices to season chicken. Transfer the chicken pieces to a nonreactive pan and add 1-quart of buttermilk. The Guss story in Memphis appears to be different than whats happening with the expansionof hot chicken from Nashville. Cooper won in the shows sixth and final episode, which aired on February. Dip chicken in buttermilk mixture, one piece at a time (use one hand for wet components and the other for dry ingredients), letting excess drip back into basin. White author Rachel L. Martin, writing for the Bitter Southerner, admitted: Although Im a second-generation Middle Tennessean, the daughter of a Nashville native, I had never eaten hot chicken or even heard of it before I moved away for graduate school in 2005. The HOTversion of the chicken is intensely peppery and addictive. When it comes to serving hot and spicy fried chicken, the Mason location was the first in all of West Tennessee. McCrory: Dollars. Required fields are marked *. Gently place each breast into the oil, working in batches, and cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned, rotating once. 5. Because there is no breading involved, the skin and the liquid used to coat it form a coating. For nearly 70 years, the little hole-in-the-wall restaurant has been serving fried chicken, baked beans, cole slaw and a slice of white bread. He said the secret to his chicken is a Liquid Batter. Theyre experienced in the restaurant industry, depth of capital and ability to hire. The chicken was crispy, hot, fresh, juicy, and flavorful. (If the batter seems too thick, add a tablespoon or less at a time of cold water until the batter has the consistency of pancake batter.). Heres what CEO Wendy McCrory said about Guss growth: Guss Fried Chickens revenue rose 21% in 2018. Cut your chicken into 10 pieces. When it comes to chicken, there is no greater comfort food than Guss Fried Chicken. During the brining process for the chicken, cover and chill the batter. black pepper, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder. Guss World Famous Fried Chicken is said to be finger-lickin good and many people swear by its flavor. As Guss continues to grow, we will honor these traditions and serve up some of the worlds best fried chicken. Bonner, wearing a navy blue Guss Fried Chicken t-shirt, printed leggings and boots, is an unapologetically no-nonsense character. Of its 29 current stores, only one is company-owned, and the rest are franchised, though it . After taking the chicken out of the oil, pat it dry using paper towels. 70 and Finde Naifeh to eight locations from Memphis to Nashville and Austin, Texas. Isnt it the fastest way to grow a restaurant chain? Is Gus fried chicken Black Owned? Eggs and milk should be whisked together and placed in a pie plate or shallow basin. The Mason location was the first restaurant to offer hot and spicy fried chicken in West Tennessee. McCrory: I dont feel we are competing against them. Franchising since 2001, Guss Fried Chicken has gone from the kitchen in a little blue house at the corner of Hwy. In addition to appearing on Food Channel shows such as The Best Thing I Ever Ate and $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, it has also been featured in commercials for various food brands. Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. Remove the chicken from the skillet with tongs, allowing any extra oil to drip back into the skillet, and then place the chicken on the prepared rack. Gently shake it to get rid of the extra. skin-on chicken pieces (halve each breast crosswise and separate leg quarters into thighs and drumsticks), 2 to 5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste, 12 cups peanut or vegetable oil for frying, TOP 5 The Absolute Best Chicken Marsala Recipes Emeril, plus 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper, cut into 10 pieces, backbone and wing tips removed.