Damien Hirst’s artwork hovers over diners at Mark Hix’s Tramshed restaurant in London.

CHICKEN is taking a starring role in London’s dining scene with a slew of recent restaurant openings giving the protein the headline act and a spate of upcoming eateries set to do the same.

According to a report from industry website Big Hospitality i n Britain, poultry-based menus are widely trending in London-town, thanks to the protein’s versatility but also due to American influences where deep-fried chicken, in particular, is experiencing a major comeback.

In London, poultry is being served in all its forms – roasted rotisserie, deep-fried and ground into burgers – and elevated to gourmet status.

Mark Hix’s Tramshed, for instance, bases its entire menu on family-style roast chicken dinners, which can be served with fries, buttered autumnal vegetables and Yorkshire puddings.

Hix is a well-known chef, cookbook author and regular food columnist for The Independent and Esquire magazine.

Similarly, like its namesake, Chicken Shop offers whole, half and quarter chickens with sides like corn on the cob, fries and coleslaw, while popular menu favourites at Rita’s Bar & Dining include wings and fried chicken sandwiches.

Meanwhile, other poultry-themed restaurants slated to open in London include Wishbone, a fried chicken and beer eatery, and Chooks which will serve chicken in quarters, halves and whole, much like Chicken Shop.

Londoners are also set to become better acquainted with a rotisserie chicken concept chain called Clockjack Oven, which has plans to open 15 sites in the city. – Relaxnews

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