Enter your email Address

ENTROPY
  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Advertising
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Info on Book Reviews
  • Essays
    • All Introspection
      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Variations on a Theme: Individuation

      February 27, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Our Side Of The Clouds

      February 26, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Side Effects May Include Monstrosity

      February 25, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      WOVEN: Bruises Around the Heart

      February 24, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: Individuation

      February 27, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: Radio Days

      February 23, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: Daddy Rocked the Baby, Mother Said Amen

      February 20, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: The End of the World

      February 9, 2021

  • Fiction
    • Fiction

      BLACKCACKLE: Cain, Knocking

      February 24, 2021

      Fiction

      The Birds: A Bird Heart for Forgiveness

      February 19, 2021

      Fiction

      New Skin

      February 17, 2021

      Fiction

      The Birds: Skittering

      February 17, 2021

      Fiction

      Variations on a Theme: Larger Than Life

      February 6, 2021

  • Reviews
    • All Collaborative Review Video Review
      Review

      Review: To Limn / Lying In by J’Lyn Chapman

      February 25, 2021

      Review

      Review: Nudes by Elle Nash

      February 22, 2021

      Review

      Burials Free of Sharks: Review of Xandria Phillips’ Hull

      February 18, 2021

      Review

      Review: Censorettes by Elizabeth Bales Frank

      February 4, 2021

      Collaborative Review

      Attention to the Real: A Conversation

      September 3, 2020

      Collaborative Review

      A Street Car Named Whatever

      February 22, 2016

      Collaborative Review

      Black Gum: A Conversational Review

      August 7, 2015

      Collaborative Review

      Lords of Waterdeep in Conversation

      February 25, 2015

      Video Review

      Entropy’s Super Mario Level

      September 15, 2015

      Video Review

      Flash Portraits of Link: Part 7 – In Weakness, Find Strength

      January 2, 2015

      Video Review

      Basal Ganglia by Matthew Revert

      March 31, 2014

      Video Review

      The Desert Places by Amber Sparks and Robert Kloss, Illustrated by Matt Kish

      March 21, 2014

  • Small Press
    • Small Press

      OOMPH! Press

      February 24, 2021

      Small Press

      Dynamo Verlag

      February 17, 2021

      Small Press

      Abalone Mountain Press

      February 3, 2021

      Small Press

      Gordon Hill Press

      December 8, 2020

      Small Press

      Evidence House

      November 24, 2020

  • Where to Submit
  • More
    • Poetry
    • Interviews
    • Games
      • All Board Games Video Games
        Creative Nonfiction / Essay

        HOW VIDEO GAMES MADE ME BIOPHILIC

        February 12, 2021

        Creative Nonfiction / Essay

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: Lady of the West

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Paperback and Anomia

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: The Real Leeds Part 12 (Once in a Lifetime)

        November 10, 2018

        Video Games

        HOW VIDEO GAMES MADE ME BIOPHILIC

        February 12, 2021

        Video Games

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Video Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Video Games

        Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the Spirit of Generosity

        December 31, 2018

    • Food
    • Small Press Releases
    • Film
    • Music
    • Paranormal
    • Travel
    • Art
    • Graphic Novels
    • Comics
    • Current Events
    • Astrology
    • Random
  • RESOURCES
  • The Accomplices
    • THE ACCOMPLICES
    • Enclave
    • Trumpwatch

ENTROPY

  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Advertising
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Info on Book Reviews
  • Essays
    • All Introspection
      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Variations on a Theme: Individuation

      February 27, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Our Side Of The Clouds

      February 26, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Side Effects May Include Monstrosity

      February 25, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      WOVEN: Bruises Around the Heart

      February 24, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: Individuation

      February 27, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: Radio Days

      February 23, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: Daddy Rocked the Baby, Mother Said Amen

      February 20, 2021

      Introspection

      Variations on a Theme: The End of the World

      February 9, 2021

  • Fiction
    • Fiction

      BLACKCACKLE: Cain, Knocking

      February 24, 2021

      Fiction

      The Birds: A Bird Heart for Forgiveness

      February 19, 2021

      Fiction

      New Skin

      February 17, 2021

      Fiction

      The Birds: Skittering

      February 17, 2021

      Fiction

      Variations on a Theme: Larger Than Life

      February 6, 2021

  • Reviews
    • All Collaborative Review Video Review
      Review

      Review: To Limn / Lying In by J’Lyn Chapman

      February 25, 2021

      Review

      Review: Nudes by Elle Nash

      February 22, 2021

      Review

      Burials Free of Sharks: Review of Xandria Phillips’ Hull

      February 18, 2021

      Review

      Review: Censorettes by Elizabeth Bales Frank

      February 4, 2021

      Collaborative Review

      Attention to the Real: A Conversation

      September 3, 2020

      Collaborative Review

      A Street Car Named Whatever

      February 22, 2016

      Collaborative Review

      Black Gum: A Conversational Review

      August 7, 2015

      Collaborative Review

      Lords of Waterdeep in Conversation

      February 25, 2015

      Video Review

      Entropy’s Super Mario Level

      September 15, 2015

      Video Review

      Flash Portraits of Link: Part 7 – In Weakness, Find Strength

      January 2, 2015

      Video Review

      Basal Ganglia by Matthew Revert

      March 31, 2014

      Video Review

      The Desert Places by Amber Sparks and Robert Kloss, Illustrated by Matt Kish

      March 21, 2014

  • Small Press
    • Small Press

      OOMPH! Press

      February 24, 2021

      Small Press

      Dynamo Verlag

      February 17, 2021

      Small Press

      Abalone Mountain Press

      February 3, 2021

      Small Press

      Gordon Hill Press

      December 8, 2020

      Small Press

      Evidence House

      November 24, 2020

  • Where to Submit
  • More
    • Poetry
    • Interviews
    • Games
      • All Board Games Video Games
        Creative Nonfiction / Essay

        HOW VIDEO GAMES MADE ME BIOPHILIC

        February 12, 2021

        Creative Nonfiction / Essay

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: Lady of the West

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Paperback and Anomia

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: The Real Leeds Part 12 (Once in a Lifetime)

        November 10, 2018

        Video Games

        HOW VIDEO GAMES MADE ME BIOPHILIC

        February 12, 2021

        Video Games

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Video Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Video Games

        Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the Spirit of Generosity

        December 31, 2018

    • Food
    • Small Press Releases
    • Film
    • Music
    • Paranormal
    • Travel
    • Art
    • Graphic Novels
    • Comics
    • Current Events
    • Astrology
    • Random
  • RESOURCES
  • The Accomplices
    • THE ACCOMPLICES
    • Enclave
    • Trumpwatch
Food

Eat With Your Hands! : Roasted Chicken

written by Leon Baham March 9, 2015

The scene opens onto a park with two men picking over the carcass of a small fowl. The oils stay slippery on their hands. The spices stick in between facial hairs. Plastic forks sit unused and to the side. The other men in the park play mahjong, speak Russian and smoke tobacco.

Oh my God why is this chicken so good! It’s way better than my chicken.
No.
It is. It is.

I have to admit it. I love roasted chicken. It is one of my favorite dishes to make, but it just tastes better at the Cumin food truck (formerly, Grill Masters)  posted at the West Hollywood farmers market every Monday at lunchtime. In between incredible enjoyment I analyze the chicken. It’s a really great and fortunate thing to encounter people doing something you do with more mastery. It means there are tangible ways to be even better. From what I could tell the gentleman at Cumin is using a blend of cumin, thyme, rosemary, turmeric, garlic and I’m sure a few other things as well. He has a much heavier hand in his seasoning than I do and I think this has to be the main difference. He is selling a whole chicken for 14 dollars and if we are being real, you know the quality of the meat is not what you would buy at a local and responsible butcher. But hey it’s street meat. Don’t think too hard about it.

One night my uncle drops off my young cousin with me while he attends a meeting. She is 15 and always in trouble and if you were to take all of that as a sign of her future potential you would be ignoring what is a very inquisitive, intelligent and comedic mind. I roast a chicken while she visits.

My mom would be shocked to see me eating healthy. Do you have any ranch?
No, I absolutely do not have ranch.
Wait is ranch not healthy either?

She asks questions about the fact that my husband is white. I’m lighter skinned than most of my cousins on the black side of my family. She says she wants to marry a white guy, and move to Long Beach. It makes me crack up. The plans of fifteen year old girls have a special way directly through to my heart. I get it. I see what Long Beach means; I see what a white husband represents. We have a long talk about racial expectations. We talk about the various ways out of life in San Bernardino. I stress college and art like I have my shit totally in order, which I don’t. But education is a way out still, I suppose. I give her the book Beloved and tell her to be patient through any things she doesn’t understand. She is excited by it. She wants the book and the Long Beach it represents. I tell her to eat more of the chicken, I know she couldn’t possibly be full yet and she laughs.

I have always loved eating food off of bones especially in the presence of others. I mean my column is called Eat With Your Hands! I’m a messy eater. I not militantly carnivorous, but I really do love the natural feeling of eating food directly from an animal. That basic drive of fire, meat, family. It’s a real thing.

The scene closes with two men casually inspecting the carcass of the fowl. The meat is gone. The mess is wiped up with napkins. The conversation is lazy and about weather and respective spouses. She would really like this. He hates it when it gets this messy… laughing and so on.

Roasted Chicken

Have fun with your blend. Here are the spices and herbs I use:

Cumin, Cayenne, Salt, black pepper, thyme and garlic. I am not exacting. I change things here and there depending on the bird, the season and my mood.

Melt a few tablespoons of butter with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Add your chicken and cover with your spice blend.

I roast my chickens at 300 degrees for two hours and 45 minutes. Slow and low. Rotating it twice to make sure the skin crisps as even as it is able to. The best advice I can give anyone in the kitchen is to slow it down. Next time you make scrambled eggs cook them over low heat and see the difference. Patience makes food better. It makes it so that when you find somebody making what you do taste so much better you can go back and simply tweak your style a bit to make everything more delicious. When the bird is done I cut it in half long ways and pour the juices directly over it to serve. I think it looks and tastes best like this.

A note:

I don’t put a lemon or anything in the center of the chicken while roasting because I can never really tell the difference. What I do instead is squeeze a little lemon juice over it right before serving.

Here is a list of various drinks I will pair with my roasted chicken:

Pale Ale
Cheap Lager
Sour Beer
Dry Rose
Basque Cider (Thank you Bar Sajor)
Pinot Noir
Nebbiolo
San Pellegrino Pompelmo (Grapefruit soda)

 

Eat With Your Hands! : Roasted Chicken was last modified: March 8th, 2015 by Leon Baham
CuminEat With Your Hands!Leon BahamRoasted Chicken
0 comment
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Avatar
Leon Baham

Leon Baham is a writer, artist, bartender and home cook from Redlands CA. He lives in Los Angeles where his favorite taco truck is La Reyna in East Hollywood. He is the writer of the weekly installments of EAT WITH YOUR HANDS! and the food editor for entropymag.com

previous post
Being by Zach Ellis
next post
The Weird Interview: Jeremy Robert Johnson

You may also like

Dining with a Cursed Bloodline: The Hermit and Amazon Provisions

January 28, 2018

Dining With A Cursed Bloodline: Mac and Cheese in the Surveillance State

May 28, 2018

Dinnerview: Gala Mukomolova 

August 1, 2018

Dinnerview: Jacob Knabb

August 26, 2015
Facebook Twitter Instagram

Recent Comments

  • furiousvexation Loved this. Killer first line and such a painted picture. Bravo!

    The Birds: a poem ·  February 17, 2021

  • Deidra Brown Wonderful, moving work!

    The Birds: a poem ·  February 15, 2021

  • Ceres Growing up in a rural area, I've observed first-hand the disparate outlooks between urban children with environmentalist parents and children raised in the country. Modern agricultural practices...

    HOW VIDEO GAMES MADE ME BIOPHILIC ·  February 13, 2021

Featured Columns & Series

  • The Birds
  • Dinnerview
  • WOVEN
  • Variations on a Theme
  • BLACKCACKLE
  • Literacy Narrative
  • COVID-19
  • Mini-Syllabus
  • Their Days Are Numbered
  • On Weather
  • Disarticulations
  • The Waters
  • Session Report series
  • Birdwolf
  • Comics I've Been Geeking Out On
  • Small Press Releases
  • Books I Hate (and Also Some I Like)
  • The Poetics of Spaces
  • Tales From the End of the Bus Line
  • Fog or a Cloud
  • 30 Years of Ghibli
  • Cooking Origin Stories
  • YOU MAKE ME FEEL
  • Ludic Writing
  • Best of 2019
  • The Talking Cure
  • Food and Covid-19
  • Stars to Stories
  • DRAGONS ARE REAL OR THEY ARE DEAD
  • Foster Care
  • LEAKY CULTURE
  • Jem and the Holographic Feminisms
  • D&D with Entropy

Find Us On Facebook

Entropy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

©2014-2021 The Accomplices LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Read our updated Privacy Policy.


Back To Top