Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Belles Hot Chicken" in English language version.
Nope. For their hot spice mix, the boys at Belle's mostly rely on just two items — smoked paprika and cayenne pepper — and it's quite a double act. ... Patted dry, the meat is divided into wings, tenders (breast) and dark meat (thigh/drumstick), then coated with a flour-based spice mix.
As for the poultry ... McGlone and Turner favour local hormone-free chickens and prepare them the old-fashioned way: that is, by working a day ahead and submerging the birds in brine.
In true Nashville style, plain white bread squats under every serve, soaking up all the juices.
There are $2 sauces as well (Belle's Ranch Dressing, Belle's Blue Cheese) and house-fermented pickles, .
Our mac and cheese ($5) lacked body while a round of crinkle-cut Old Bay fries ($5) should have been headed off at the pass. But you're bound to want seconds of potato salad, coleslaw and Almost Arnold's amazing beans (braised in ham hocks). ... Southern food is not just about firebirds. Order hot fish at Belle's ($16) and you'll get flathead fillets dunked in buttermilk, rolled in cornmeal and spiced all over. Love it. Even mushrooms ($13) get the deep-heat treatment here.
Returning to Melbourne, he and Turner were determined to share Nashville's red-hot secret with Melburnians. So they moved into Belle's Diner six weeks back, rebadged it as Belle's Hot Chicken ... and haven't looked back.
VERDICT: Belle's Hot Chicken is more fun than you can poke a drumstick at. Next best thing to being in Nashville.
(it originally opened as Belle's Diner, with a different chef).
Bringing the idea back to Australia, McGlone opened in Melbourne and soon found he had a cult following for that unlikely combination of spicy-fried chicken and natural wine that should absolutely not work, but absolutely does.
Jenner-Leuthart, who says he "bought out Morgy (Belles co-founder Morgan McGlone)", is confident he'll sign on the Surry Hills property before the end of the month and open in late 2022. If that site falls over, he wants to find another in the area.
