"Red Bird, the 2023 winner of the National Fried Chicken Festival, is the real deal. The bird gets a wet batter coating, prepped 24 hours before landing hot and juicy on the plate. The result is white meat, on the bone and tenders, that is astonishingly juicy. The crust crackles at the bite, not too thick, just right. There are sandwiches and sides like red beans and onion rings too. As for the local brand, which also has locations in Covington and Denham Springs, that crispy skin is a slightly burnished shade of mahogany." - Beth D'Addono