The Smashing Pumpkins band were in Australia for their music tour and performance. And during their performance in Down Under, the group was thrilled by a local seasoning. It was Chicken salt on the French fries (or chips in Australia) served to them. It is not available in the USA. And they thought aloud that they can mint a lot of money importing the seasoning into the USA.
The Smashing Pumpkins band in Australia
The Smashing Pumpkins is an American Rock band from Illinois, Chicago. It began operation in 1988. The founder is Billy Corgan, the frontman and guitarist. The band has D’arcy Wretzky (the bassist), James Iha (guitarist) and Jimmy Chamberlain (the drummer). There have been changes in its members over time. And the current ones are Billy Corgan, 56, Jimmy Chamberlain, 58, James Iha, 55, Jack Bates, 33, and guitarist Jeff Schroeder, 49.
Smashing Pumpkins rock band (Source: Facebook)They were recently touring the Down Under (Australia and New Zealand) and got a wonderful response from the audience there. They were in Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Newcastle.
And they found a wonderful and tasty seasoning that was sprinkled over the French fries that they had there. It is called chicken salt. And though it is a staple in that nation, it is not available in other parts of the world.
Band members praise the chicken salt
James, 55 shared the band’s delight on consuming the seasoning with the crowd at their show in Sydney. He said:
‘It’s awesome here. I had French fries with chicken salt, and I was like, god dammit, what is on these French fries?’
‘Or chips. And they said “chicken salt”. I said, “I gotta get some of that, bring it back to America and make a million dollars”‘.
‘So, for all those who enjoy chicken salt, this next new song is for you’
French fries with chicken salt (Source: SFGate)The band and especially their guitarist James plan to establish a trade in chicken salt and export it to the USA from Australia. That way, he can mint a lot of money selling this unique product in the USA.
In Australia, chicken salt is used in place of plain common salt on French fries or Chips and other fried foods. It is the country’s popular seasoning. The ingredients that go into its making include salt, sugar, garlic, onion, paprika and other flavor enhancing agents. It has certain herbs in it too. It is the secret and unknown umami bomb of Australia.
More on the salt recipe variations
The ingredients list might vary. It has chicken flavoring in it. Some add acidity regulators and yeast extracts in it. The list is controversial too.
Actually, the authentic and good chicken salt does not contain the chicken flavoring. But it has dried, roasted, braised and salted chicken in it. Dudley’s, the restaurant catering to Australian cuisine in New York city prepare their own chicken salt from fresh chicken.
The chef at the restaurant, Thomas Lim renders the chicken skin fat in an oven, braises it in chicken stock, and then dries it overnight in an oven. To this, he adds dehydrated mushroom powder. Moreover, they put kosher and sea salt, white pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.
Dudley’s French fries with chicken salt (Source: Epicurious)Also, read What is Tajin seasoning? Uses and nutritive value!
One can purchase it at the restaurant counter or online. The online brands have added ingredients in them such as rosemary extract, celery seeds, mustard seeds, tomato powder, cinnamon, fenugreek seeds etc.