Chicken and Waffles Anyone?

I have had chicken and waffles three times in my life.

The first time was at an classy Beverly Hills restaurant called Bouchon.  The second time was when I made some good old fashioned buttermilk fried chicken and decided to jump on the C & W bandwagon to see if I could pull it off at home (I sorta did...but the sauce was not quite right!).  And, just like the saying goes...third time's the charm!  It was just last weekend for our seventeenth wedding anniversary.  I had heard so much about Calgary restaurant Model Milk, specifically about about their chicken and waffles for two, I HAD to have them.

Crispy fried (and not greasy) tender chicken, waffles (more like squished Yorkshire puddings...but they were delicious) served on top of a chicken maple gravy (and a side salad with fresh greens and radishes in a light lemony dressing).   Of course we also had the foie gras for our appie,  which they made twice by mistake...lucky us!

 It. Was. Heaven.

Foie gras with cornbread toast to start (twice....)

Followed by chicken and waffles for 2....

Lets load up my plate!!!!

Ah yes...pass the salad please!!!!

So what is the history of this unique combo, that has crispy savoury chicken and delicious fluffy waffles served with a maple gravy?

The Chicken Story...

• 1300's: Chicken Fricassee popular in French Cuisine...fried chicken braised in a sauce.  By the 17th Century, it evolved to a more traditional fried chicken, coated in egg and breadcrumbs and fried in butter....
• 1800's:  Fried chicken evolves by the African slaves in Southern kitchens
• 1940's:  Harlan Sanders (aka Colonel Sanders) developed his signature fried chicken

The Waffle Story....(and how these two foods got together)

• Waffles were seen in the middle ages and made by bakeries that also made communion wafers
• 1600's: Pilgrams brought waffles to America after seeing them during a brief stop in Holland.  The earliest combination of chicken and waffles was seen in Pennsylvania Dutch country..waffles topped with pulled chicken and gravy
• As with everything...the combination evolved...soul-food inspired versions were seen at jazz clubs in America in the 1930's. 
• 1976:  A restaurant in America opens called Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles.  
• The dish continues to gain in popularity today, being recreated and reinvented from a fast food style to a high end restaurant style C & W dish. 

Happy Anniversary!   

I for one am a fan, and will definitely be going back to Model Milk for more!

HMD 2014!

Some pictures from today!  Happy Mother's Day!

My Traditional Mother's Day Brunch
with my favourite things!

What a wonderful Mother's Day!   It is so great to have traditions...no matter what they are.  Our tradition for quite a long time has been for the kids and my husband to make me a delicious brunch, followed by "Whatever-Mommy-Wants-To-Do" today.  Brunch was as usual, a brilliant collection of my favourite things...smoked salmon with caper berries, a selection of fine cheeses and bread, fresh berries, chocolate croissant, sausage, scrambled eggs served with coffee and orange juice.  It was magnificent!  Later on, we walked through Nosehill park, relaxed at home, went to Without Papers for dinner (totally yummy and trendy pizza) followed by a family movie.


As for gifts,  I asked for no complaining no matter how many pictures I took today...and I took A LOT of pictures! Though I also got the perfect tea mug from David's Tea (thank you!!!) and a homemade collage from my daughter, complete with coupons for hugs and kisses.

And there were no complaints for the 40 pictures that I took!

Ahhhh....Nova Scotia
Smoked Salmon....

Thank you for a fabulous day!

The Brown Goddess Can Run!

 So today was THE day!   May 4 (yes, its really May and it really looks like this outside...)   The Firefighters fun run / walk!   Wooo Hooo!    I had signed up months ago to do this, and signed up for the 9.11 km run.   Today was the day.  And I did it! And I wasn't dreading it (too much).  I have never enjoyed running, and today...I was going to prove to myself that the Brown Goddess CAN run.....

Some pre-run pics.....

Everyone say.....Its FREEEZING!!!!!!!!!!

Okay...everyone ready???   Ooooh look!  A firefighter....
lets show him our best side....

Half way with the Handsome Hunk

 Then it was ON.   The sound of the siren...and all the 9.11'ers were off!  Had to focus on my breathing, and just go at my own pace.    Crap...where is that half way mark?  *Fast forward 38 minutes* Ahhhhh...here he is.......I could not resist taking a picture!   I downed my water, and said "You are too cute and gorgeous to not take a picture of...can we take pic together?"  He must have thought I was nuts...but not in a dangerous way, so gracefully agreed and told me I was the first one who asked him that....seriously?   I am almost dead last and nobody asked him?   Their loss.......

One more, and I guess I better get back....
38 minutes and counting

Okay.....I've made it this far.....I can do it.   Of course I can......and what is with this snow???    All I could think about was getting back, and seeing my family and my bootcamp friends......6 km.....7 km, 8.....9....can't stop now!!!  Keep running Sherene!  Then, I see the bridge, and see the start/finish line....I hear them cheering!    

I think the best moment for me was when I saw my Body N' Sole buddies....  They saw me, and ran towards me cheering...Dammit!  Don't make me cry (too late!).   And they ran across the finish line with me! Then I saw my hubby, kids and puppy....and it was absolutely amazing!   My running time was 1 hr and 17 minutes (and 47 seconds), and I ran just about 85 - 90 % of the way, stopping for water breaks, the half-way-hunk-break and a few walking breaks....but....I did it!   The Brown Goddess Ran 9.11 km!   

Me...running across the finish line......Wooo Hooo!

Check us OUT!!!!!

Thank you to my husband and kids for being there for me today and everyday...and thank you Laurie (and Cheryl!) for just about the last 2 years of bootcamp....I never would have been able to do this with you!   And of course, just in case you are wondering, as I crossed the finish line, I was carried by two firefighters.....picture to follow!  

Yeah Baby!!!!  

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