“I like to cook with the philosophy of using great ingredients and not altering them too much.” - Aaron Sanchez

Buttermilk fried chicken is a classic, and truly one of my favorite things to make at home. It is rare I make one of my favorite dishes. Lately, I have been craving a buttermilk fried chicken thigh sandwich, and decided to create this dish at home.

Traditionally buttermilk fried chicken pairs wonderfully with Champagne, Crémant, or Prosecco - but today I’m switching it up, and pairing this meal with Lambrusco.

Not familiar with Lambrusco? I’m sharing all the details on this lovely wine below.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich

Fried chicken is truly a classic. Marinated boneless chicken thighs for 24 hours, in a special blend of herbs and spices was the key to making this protein perfect.

On the day of cooking, I put each chicken thigh into a bowl of buttermilk, ensuring the flavor sets in just right. This really helps tenderize the meat, and upon frying the chicken, it was able to get the perfect golden crispy crunch.

The sandwich was simple - a buttered potato bun, fresh arugula, avocado, garlic and herb mayo, with the crown jewel of course - a buttermilk fried chicken thigh.

Buttermilk fried chicken thigh sandwich with garlic herb mayo, avocado, and arugula on a buttered potato bun.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco is an Italian red grape, and this is a sparkling wine. The region of this particular Lambrusco is Salamino di Santa Croce. They are typically lighter in color, semi-sparkling, and is either semi-sweet or dry style. Also, this varietal gets in name from its resemblance to sausage as a grape cluster - pretty cool, right?

All in all, Lambrusco is great to pair with a rich or fatty dish, as the acid and tannins of this wine really help balance one another.

Now, lets dive into this particular wine!

I picked up this bottle at my local bakery, Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry - a popular spot near my home in Virginia Beach, VA. It is rare that I’m able to find a lovely Lambrusco, so I jumped at the opportunity. Immediately I knew what I had to pair it with a fried chicken dish. The cool thing about this wine is that it is organic, and I’m always interested in trying these particular types of wines.

The notes on this wine are:

Red Fruit: cherry and cranberry
Earth: minerality and balsamic
Black Fruit: plum, black cherry, and blackberry
Malolactic: yeast and dairy
Spice: pepper, clove, anise, and cinnamon

Also, there are some subtle notes of apple and peach. Overall, for a price point of under $25, this wine is complex and overall very well done.

This wine would pair well with pork, salmon, tuna, cheese, cured meat, and of course chicken - particularly buttermilk fried chicken.

XO, Analise

pros·per·i·ty /präˈsperədē/ - a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, good fortune

Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry, is the cutest and most peaceful spot near the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, VA. This Roman inspired bakery takes me back to my Italy vacation from earlier this year. As soon as you step foot into the pantry, you are greeted by kind faces, a wide array of pizza options, and fresh baked goods. Everything is made onsite, and with the best ingredients. I was super eager to try their food, and their unique slices are like no other pizza place. Their pizza is served Roman-style - on a square baking sheet, and each slice is cut with a pair of scissors. The staff took their time to explain the history of their shop, how they make their pizza, and went over the quality ingredients they use for the baked goods.

Prosperity is amazing, and I cannot wait to share my experience there.

The entrance to Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry.

The coolest artwork on the side of the building.

Prosperity has a small but eclectic wine collection. Their wines are fantastic, and from Italy, which matches the Roman theme of their restaurant. The staff went over their wine list with me, and even let me try one of the Sangiovese’s! During our visit, I opted for a glass of Cabernet from Baurboursville Vineyards in Charlottesville, VA.

The wine offered for purchase to guests.

A wall decorated with an assortment of jams for patrons to order.

The freshly made pizza on display for guests to select and enjoy.

Cookies, croissants, breads, scones - you name it Prosperity has it for you!

The restaurant used to be an auto repair shop, and the way they have converted the space is absolutely magical. It is cozy, and so inviting. During your visit you can see the staff baking behind the counter while you enjoy your meal. Also, the space is setup to where you can meet new people and share a table to enjoy your meal.

The lovely space and decor is so inviting in Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry.

Our Order

When you order your slices, they heat up the pizza so it is nice and warm. Then, they serve it on the cutest tray for you to enjoy. The pizza is absolutely light and fluffy - their dough goes through a 3-day fermentation process, so that your body can easily digest it -which means, more pizza for me!

My husband and I went the traditional route and ordered the Pepperoni Pizza. Everything about it was fresh. The flour and tomato sauce were both organic. Also, the cheese and pepperoni were so high quality.

G decided to be super adventurous, and ordered a slice of the Bacon, Pear, and Blue Cheese Pizza. Once again, they used organic flour for the pie. Also, the ingredients are as follows: unfiltered olive oil, pears, blue cheese, sweet onion, kale, bacon, mozzarella, and wild honey. He loved the sweetness of the ingredients as they paired super well with the smokiness of the bacon. The blue cheese also added a really cool dynamic to the slice as well.

Cabernet + Pepperoni and Bacon, Pear, and Blue Cheese Pizza

We couldn’t leave without getting some pastries to go! I love chocolate croissants, and G is a huge fan of scones. Fresh baked goods are always nice to have for the morning after. These goodies were the perfect treat indulge on during a relaxing Sunday morning.

Fresh baked goods, packaged in the pantry’s signature box.

Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry has been open for less than a year, but is doing so amazingly well. This new restaurant is taking Virginia Beach by storm, and I cannot wait to visit in years to come. I’m so blown away by this spot, and the kitchen is a true testament to “quality over quantity”. Everything is done right, and I’m so thrilled we have a restaurant like this in our hometown city.

XO, Analise

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich + Lambrusco Pairing

Dining Out: Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry

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