1. Chiles layer on flavor
Bruxie is hot stuff this October, launching two spicy chicken sandwiches: the Notorious H.O.T. spiked with hot habaneros and the Lil’ Heat, flavored with milder Fresno chiles. The two sandwiches are layered with several distinct levels of heat to create a complex, multidimensional flavor profile, said chef Kelly Mullarney. Both begin with fried chicken coated with a nine-ingredient dry chile blend, followed by a housemade bomba hot sauce made with Italian Calabrian chiles. Finally, the Notorious H.O.T. gets a layer of pickled fresh habaneros, while the Lil’ Heat is topped with pickled Fresno chile peppers. The acidity of the pickling tames the hotness a bit while naturally cleansing the palate, Mullarney said. Crisp slaw and a toasted bun complete the build.