Roasted chicken and picnics go together like, um, two things that go together really well. And the best part about roasted chicken is that you can find it everywhere. Supermarkets. Specialty shops. Quick-serve restaurants. Given the abundant choices, whom should you ask to give you the bird? We did a blind taste-test of five roasted chickens. Twenty minutes and five well-gnawed carcasses later, we had our answer.
STORE: Boston Market, www.bostonmarket.com
PRICE: $7.49
LOOKS: Consistent bronze hue
AROMA: Very mild
TASTE: “Delicious, sweet, juicy.” The clear winner (although I thought it was salty).
SCORE (out of 5): 4.2
COMMENTS: “Worthy of a main course.”
STORE: Trotter’s to Go, 1337 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-868-6510
PRICE: $12.95
LOOKS: Beautiful golden-brown skin
AROMA: Scents of lavender, lemon
TASTE: “Actually tastes like chicken.”
SCORE (out of 5): 3.2
COMMENTS: “All this bird needs is a top hat.”
STORE: Jewel, www.jewelosco.com
PRICE: $6.99
LOOKS: Reddish skin, thanks to paprika dusting
AROMA: Very mild
TASTE: Very little seasoning detected; moist.
SCORE (out of 5): 2.9
COMMENTS: “Needs more seasoning . . . plain but good.”
STORE: Dominick’s, www.dominicks.com
PRICE: $8.99
LOOKS: Meaty, slightly browned skin
AROMA: Mild, but detectable herbiness
TASTE: Bland, inoffensive, very moist.
SCORE (out of 5): 2.3
COMMENTS: “A chick this plump should be tested for steroids.”
STORE: Poletto World Chicken & Salad, 170 W. Washington St.; 312-214-0011
PRICE: $10.50
LOOKS: Bird somewhat flattened by sloppy packaging
AROMA: Nice blend of oregano, garlic
TASTE: Good herby flavor, but too dry.
SCORE (out of 5): 1.9
COMMENTS: “Looks like he lost a fight.”
———-
pvettel@tribune.com
