New chicken chain a welcome surprise<\/p>\n
By John Aglionby<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's insatiable appetite for fast food
\nshows no sign of being satisfied. Outlets selling fast burgers,
\nfast chicken, fast soup, fast ice cream and fast anything else
\nyou'd care to mention seem to be springing up quicker than you
\ncan say: \"Chicken and chips with a large coke.\"<\/p>\n
The latest speedy-service center of foreign gastronomic
\nsameness to open claims to offer a new dimension in poultry
\npreparation. Pudgies Famous Chicken, in the food court of Plaza
\nIndonesia, somewhat contradictorily touts itself as the
\nhealthiest fried chicken around.<\/p>\n
Since 1981, this New York-based company has been skinning
\nchickens before cooking them and thereby allegedly reducing
\ncholesterol, fat and sodium levels by up to 90 percent. The birds
\nare then cooked in 100 percent cholesterol-free soy bean oil to
\nretain the healthy twist.<\/p>\n
Spreading its wings beyond the United States for the first
\ntime, Pudgies opened its 54th outlet worldwide with a \"human\"
\nchicken jumping out of a giant egg made from balloons last
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
The restaurant's biggest problem is going to be its name. Many
\nIndonesians, as illustrated by the event's master of ceremonies,
\ncannot pronounce \"Pudgies\". They say \"Fudgies\" instead. I only
\nhope there will not be legions of disappointed souls wandering
\naround Plaza Indonesia looking for a newly opened candy store.<\/p>\n
Everyone at the opening was given a voucher for a free meal.
\nThis was a rather unnecessary step as far as the journalists were
\nconcerned as the press kit contained an envelope stuffed with
\nenough cash to buy most of the items on the menu -- several times
\nover.<\/p>\n
I can assure you that it (the money I was given, not the
\nvoucher) is on its way back whence it came. I never realized the
\nworld of fast-food chains was such a chicken-peck-chicken
\nexistence.<\/p>\n
What was ridiculous about the bribe was that it was totally
\nunnecessary, because the cholesterol-free food was really rather
\ngood (for fast food). Perhaps the management lacks confidence in
\nits own ability to cook a chicken as it claims it can, or perhaps
\nPudgies is being run with a \"When in Rome ... \" attitude.<\/p>\n
An even more superfluous aspect to the \"envelope\" is that
\nPudgies is not exactly going to be struggling for customers.
\nNestled comfortably in the center of the food court, it will be
\nsubject to a constant stream of ravenous shoppers passing its
\nyellow counter.<\/p>\n
The chicken tasted much better than that served in other
\nchains (perhaps I was appreciating the reduced sodium level?) and
\nwas not at all greasy. It is apparently not quite the same as
\nPudgies American chicken; according to the company's Vice
\nPresident, Bill Torres, the meat is cooked in a slightly
\ndifferent manner to take into account the vagaries of Indonesian
\ntaste buds.<\/p>\n
The beef ribs were also tender and juicy; the flavor being
\nsignificantly enhanced by the meat being cooked with the fat on
\nit. Many people go to great pains to remove meat fat but,
\nproviding it is still hot, I find it delicious.<\/p>\n
Of the other items offered, the french fries were nothing
\nspecial, the rice was rice and the Coke was Coke.<\/p>\n
Plastered across the menu was the promise \"We deliver\". What
\nthey deliver at the moment I'm not quite sure. It certainly isn't
\nfood because, like many other Indonesians, they are having
\nproblems getting a telephone line from the local Telkom
\ntelecommunication company. Maybe the bribes are being given to
\nthe wrong people.<\/p>\n
The plan is to open an outlet in Blok M in March and another
\neight nationwide in the next few years. If you are in the area,
\nit's worth giving Pudgies a try. Just don't expect an envelope on
\nevery visit.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-chicken-chain-a-welcome-surprise-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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