Last week, the Brixton branch of the contemporary Indian pop-up-gone-permanent Kricket hosted its first Fried Chicken Challenge, a fun charity event in support of The Childhood Trust. A star-studded panel weighed the pros and cons of dishes by seven chefs of some of London's best eateries before declaring the winner, Black Bear Burger.
The other competitors included inventive Asian-inspired spot Mr Ji, Other Side Fried's chicken that's full of character, chef James Cochran's Around the Cluck spin-off, the iconic Claridge's, the lively Daffodil Mulligan by Irish chef Richard Corrigan, and popular ramen chain Tonkotsu. The judges participating in the blind tasting included rapper, chef and TV personality Big Zuu, the Evening Standard's restaurant critic and author Jimi Famurewa, acclaimed chef Kerth Gumbs, writer and journalist Flora Gill, chef, restaurateur and TV personality Judy Joo, and even a deputy of the Colonel himself – a KFC rep.
In the end, it was the Black Bear Burger group that won the main prize with their blue-cheese-stuffed chicken wing, slathered in hot sauce. Though they're primarily known for their burgers, the group has recently launched 20ft Chicken at the Market Halls food court in Marylebone, so they're primed to take full advantage of their victory. The champion wing will be served as a special at the Brixton branch of Black Bear Burger for the time being, however.