It’s So Hot Right Now: Our Visit to Hattie B’s
Atlanta Eats intern Jordan Shoulberg visited the new Little Five HOTspot everyone is talking about, Hattie B’s, and tested their 7 progressively hotter spices. Check out her journey and our video visit to Hattie B’s below!
Post by: Jordan Shoulberg, Atlanta Eats intern
It’s new. It’s cool. It’s all the rage. Hattie B’s Nashville Chicken has officially opened in Atlanta. The former laundromat in the heart of Little Five Points has been transformed into a red hot restaurant. Trust me, this place is spicy! Therefore, in honor of National Hot and Spicy Day, we are taking you through the 7 flavors to Hattie B’s hell. So come on… let’s “spice up your life!”
Southern: no heat 1/10
Here in the South, we eat our chicken fried, but can we really handle the heat? This “Southern” flavor has all the flavor, but no heat. Therefore, for all our Southern Belles (ladies and gentlemen) that can not stand a fiery mouth, this seasoned tender is perfect for you. The warm delicious chicken will coat your mouth from the spice of the restaurant surrounding you. Atlanta Eats ranks it a 1 on the hot scale.
Mild: touch of heat
Now we are starting to get somewhere. With a subtle addition of heat, the mild wings can hit the spot for our newbie heat foodies. Meanwhile, our experienced wing eaters can step the flavor level up because we rank this a 3 on the hot scale.
Medium: Warming Up
Just as the title hints, these wings are starting to make our mouths steam. The medium wings appear harmless, but without a root beer float bubbling next to you, then prepare to feel mildly overwhelmed. No worries, the taste of these crispy wings can be easily tamed by the richness of the pimiento mac and cheese. The chicken definitely ranks a 5.5 on the hot scale.
Hot!: feel the heat
And now is the time we say our goodbyes to the amautuer spice eaters because it is about to get hot. This flavor of hotness is evident in the appearance of the chicken. The seasoning oozes from the rigid pieces of the fried bread crumbles giving a dark brown appearance to this delicious meat. We are skipping a few levels of heat ranking to give this an 8 on the hot scale.
Damn Hot!: Fire starter 9
Bring your fire extinguisher because it is getting hot in here. Although just a tiny bit spicier in theory, the Damn Hot! is truly spicier than the rest. Whether you think ice tea, a root beer float, lemonade, or water is best when eating these wings, make sure to have one ready to quench the fire in your mouth. Before the first bite is even taken, the peppery smell lingers in the air, warning you of the heat you are about to endure. But this heat is no match for the flavorful tastes that originate from this dish. We give it a 9 on the hot scale.
Shut the Cluck UP!!!!: Burn Notice 11/10
Once upon a time, I was a girl who loved her spice. I went into Hattie B’s expecting nothing less than a little kick that I could easily handle. The waiter, noticing my confidence, warned me of the ghost pepper used in the seasoning of these little firecrackers. Positive that I could defeat the heat, I took my first bite. If I am being frank, the Shut the Cluck Up!! chicken is the spiciest thing I have ever eaten. As the tears began rolling out of my eyes, the meaning of the name finally resonated with me. Some people literally Shut the Cluck Up as they attempt to regroup themselves, while others (me for example) refuse to Shut the Cluck Up due to fear of their mouth exploding in flames. Despite my dramatics- this was one of the greatest pieces of chicken I have ever enjoyed. The spice cleansed my body and I felt rejuvenated and ready for the rest of my day. I challenge all you spice cravers to take on the Shut the Cluck Up wing.
Do you think you’re able to handle the heat?
