Fried chicken takes off
THE minds behind the hugely successful Secret Feast are cooking up their next mouth- watering business venture and opening Otto’s Hen Haus at Warrina Arcade.
Heidi Hatherell and Ashlee Ede have collaborated with Otto’s Fresh Food market owner Don Peel to open the store which will have the only charcoalcooked chicken in Townsville.
The new store located at the Illuka St entrance to Warrina Arcade will open to the public tomorrow.
Ms Hatherell said the idea to open a chicken shop came while hunting for a commercial kitchen to use for their Secret Feast events.
“We had set up the Secret Feast and it was going gangbusters so we needed a commercial kitchen,” she said.
“We had a chat with Don and he loves Ashlee’s chicken so he suggested we open a chicken shop.
“Ashlee cooks the most amazing chicken, which as good friends all of us have had.”
The commercial kitchen at the rear of the premises will be used to prepare food for The Secret Feast while the chicken shop is at the front opposite Otto’s Fresh Food Market.
The Hen Haus will be the latest offering from the Otto’s brand following Otto’s Fish Market and Otto’s Parlour Patisserie also recently opening.
While Ms Hatherell brings a wealth of business experience and knowledge, Ms Ede’s southern fried chicken already has a strong following in Townsville.
A team of 10 will be employed at the new store.
Ms Ede said she sourced her inspiration from charcoal chicken stores in Sydney and Melbourne, which have a cult following among southern residents.
“I did a research trip and I was in Sydney for 17 hours and I hit heaps of chicken shops, and after walking in and talking to the chefs, I knew exactly what I needed to do,” she said.
“We’ll have salads that will change daily, chips, southern fried chicken, southern fried
A team of 10 will be employed at the new store
chicken burgers and chicken and gravy rolls.
“The sides will always be changing and we’ll be doing things like wok- tossed brocollini and beans in sesame oil with sesame seeds, bird fat baby chats, mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes and maple pumpkin and sweet potato.”
The store will have a range of healthy options and have packs such as a chook and two sides designed to provide dinner for a family.
The store’s chickens are also much larger than the standard supermarket chooks at size 15 compared with size nine.
Otto’s Hen Haus is also putting together trays of meals which will be able to be pre- ordered for pick- up on Christmas Eve and then put in the oven to be cooked with full instructions provided.
The store will be open from 11am to 8pm. charcoal