I know I’m about to stir up some controversy around here, but you can keep your Great British Baking Show. After catching a sneak peek, my vote is for the new weekly series, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, which premieres tonight, Monday Nov. 7 at 10/9c on VH1.
For the premiere, Stewart and Snoop Dogg compete to see who makes the best fried chicken. At stake is a blinged-out Fried Chicken Championship belt. “I don’t know who’s going to be more fried by the end of this show,” Stewart teased, “my chicken or your chicken.” Yes, there were a million pot jokes in this episode. But both hosts brought their best chicken game, which means we were able to grab some valuable tips from Stewart and Snoop.
1. Start with a cocktail
Snoop mixed up what he calls The Laid Back: Tanqueray 10, Apple Cîroc and pineapple juice topped off with ginger ale. We recommend sipping slowly since you’re going to be working with hot grease pretty soon.
2. Brine
Stewart brines her chicken in ice water and two tablespoons of salt for a couple of days. She says it removes impurities. “Look how beautiful and white and cold that looks,” she murmured. “If one person knows how to make shit whiter, it’s Martha Stewart,” guest Seth Rogen later added. (Wiz Khalifa is also a guest on the first episode.)
2. Buttermilk bath
After the brine you want to soak your chicken in a bath of buttermilk and a half teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Stewart added some Tabasco sauce and salt.
3. Fried chicken’s importance in American history
Snoop broke in to give us some important fried chicken trivia. In 2011, President Obama was on his way to an important meeting in Los Angeles and he “detoured his motorcade” to make a special trip to the legendary Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles. He ordered the No. 9 Country Boy, three wings and a waffle, now known as the No. 9 Obama. “And with those wings and waffles in his belly, the president now had the fire and resolve to take out Osama bin Laden,” Snoop added. “Now chew on that.”
4. Go all wings, separated
Snoop’s fried chicken game is all wings. He discards the wingtip and then separates the rest into wingette and drum pieces.
More:Eat boneless chicken wings one-handed with these easy hacks
5. Lemon pepper
No brine for Snoop. He coats his chicken in lemon pepper “from the lemon guy on the corner.”
6. Black pepper in your fried chicken coating
It’s not all about white for Stewart. She prefers black pepper in her fried chicken coating.
7. Fried chicken is Scottish
Stewart says Scottish immigrants brought fried chicken to America, but it was African-Americans who used novel spices to give it the flavor it has now. Or as Snoop paraphrased, “It was African-Americans who took that bland-ass chicken and made that thang do what it do.”
8. Stewart has killed her own chickens
Not that this plays into your own fried chicken game, but FYI: Martha Stewart says she gives her chickens a little vodka before beheading them. Moving on!
9. Flavor with potato chips
Snoop crumbles barbecue-flavored potato chips over his chicken before dredging it in flour. Yessss.
10. Protect yourself while frying
Snoop and Seth Rogen wore sparkly glitter goggles while frying their chicken. Stewart just uses a splatter guard.
More:How to make perfect fried chicken like a real Southerner
11. Know when your chicken is done
Snoop says, “I don’t need a timer. I just look at the grease. The grease is gonna tell you when it’s done.” Stewart puts a meat thermometer into her first piece to make sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked (165 degrees F internal temp).
12. Touch your food — love it
“The great thing about Snoop is, he never stops touching his food. I like that,” Stewart says. “I love my food. My food’s gonna love me back,” Snoop replied.
We’re not going to spoil the ending for you. You’ll have to watch the show to find out who wins the Fried Chicken Championship belt.
Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party premieres tonight, Monday, Nov. 7 at 10/9c on VH1. Each will put a personal spin on dishes for a themed meal. Guests include Seth Rogen, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Jamie Chung, 2 Chainz, Naya Rivera, Ashley Graham, Jason Derulo, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Mike Epps, Kathy Griffin, Kelis, Ashlee Simpson & Evan Ross, Keke Palmer, Robin Thicke and Bella Thorne. Joining the fun are Ice Cube, Chris Bosh, Chef Morimoto & Chef Hiroki and DJ Khaled. Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party will also feature musical guests D.R.A.M., Dreezy, October London, the Long Beach City College Marching Band, Remy Ma & Fat Joe and Anderson Paak.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below.
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