Eating off the Hill: Boneless chicken comes to Nando's

As I've written before, I'm a fan of the Nando's peri peri chicken. It's like Swiss Chalet, but spicy. And good. It's one of the earlier Eating off the Hill reviews I wrote. I found Nando's-branded Peri Peri sauce at Farm Boy before Christmas, and have been enjoying it.

So, when I decided to have dinner downtown last week before a show at the NAC, the Nando's across the street was a logical choice. They were busy on a Friday evening, but I was seated quickly. And what caught my eye was the limited-time boneless chicken menu -- butterflied breasts, thighs, and sandwiches.

I usually order the 1/4 chicken white meat, so I decided to go with the boneless version instead and get the butterflied chicken breasts, with chips and seasonal veggies.

The breast was nicely marinated, grilled well and was still juicy, and I liked that they left the patch of crispy chicken skin on top for those -- like I -- that choose to partake. It was a tasty meal -- the only thing that left a bad taste in my mouth was the price. Tax and tip all in, dinner was $27. Too much for what I got, and more than Nando's usually is.

They don't have the limited time menu online, but I recall the breast as being about $14 before adding sides -- the boned version is $14 with two sides included. So that's a hefty labour charge for the de-boning.

Next time, I'll take on that responsibility myself. Unless it's a sandwich, no more boneless for me.

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Eating up the Hill: Peri peri makeover for the 43rd Parliament

While the politicians and staffers were off since late June running for re/election, the Parliamentary cateteria staff were busy with lots of little changes here and there. In addition to easier to read menus and a new shelf to sell unhealthy chocolate bars, they've tweeked some menu items. And I came accross one of them today: Peri Peri Chicken 2.0.

I reviewed their OG Peri Pri chicken entree last fall: it was a not particularly authentic but tasty dish of  diced chicken in peri peri sauce with chips and a half corn of cob. It was decidedly not bad.

I've had it once or twice since, and it was on the menu when I came down for lunch today. But it was...different.

As you can see, it's a chicken breast instead of diced chicken, and a ladle of corn instead of the half  cob. The chips are unchanged. With a cup of sauce on the side.

My mind already set and the line for the grill long, I plowed ahead. Remarking on the change while checking out, the gentleman personing the cash remarked it was change for the better. I said I would withold judgement until after my meal.

And, it now being after my meal, I can say this was not a real(ly good) change. They did not choose forward with this peri peri revamp.

The chips are unchanged, they're fine -- some peri peri powder would still be a welcome upgrade.

Just a tiny quantity of corn was provided, and I miss the cob. Maybe it was a half cob's amount, but the cob makes it seem like more. Corn is cheap, people, don't be so parsamomious with the portions.

And the chicken breast -- meaty, but dry as could be. It appeared to be BBQ'd to within an inch of its life, and if there was any flavouring added, peri peri or otherwise, it was grilled off long ago. No flavour of note to the sauceless chicken. And the side sauce? Seemed much more Frank's Red Hot than Peri Peri to me.

The folks at Nandos have nothing to worry about, other than besmirching the good Peri Peri name with people that don't know better.

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Eating up the Hill: Peri peri chicken with corn on the cob & chips

As part of the Parliamentary Cafeteria's menu revitalization they've been introducing more ethnic dishes, or at least ethnic-inspired dishes. One of the new offerings fits this category: peri peri chicken with corn on the cob and chips.

As a fan of Nando's, the Portugese chicken chain out of South Africa that's popular in England, I already enjoy the peri peri chicken so this was a must-try. And I've had the corn at Nando's so I'll assume that's authnic as well. The chips, I dunno. Maybe with some peri peri powder.

This was a new entree so the server was a bit confused at how much chicken to give me. I watched with disapointment as, after consulting with a colleague, the pound or so of chicken she had originally scooped out for me was whittled down to a few hundred grams as she weighed it on a scale.

Was left with less chicken than I'd have liked. A full cob would have been nice too. Still, it was tasty chicken, though it could have been spicier, and the corn was a nice healthy touch. Some peri peri powder on the chips would have been excellent. Did try to soeak some of the excess sauce up with them.

All in all, will try again.

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