Howlin' Ray's Unleashing True Nashville Hot Chicken in Los Angeles

LA is about to get a cult food item that it's never really had: Nashville Hot Chicken. Johnny Zone, most recently executive chef at Franklin Village's La Poubelle, has done time at Sean Brock's Husk in Nashville. Along the way, he developed a passion for Nashville Hot Chicken researching at various spots in the city before perfecting his own recipe. The result is Howlin' Ray's, a soon-to-roll food truck that'll use local, free-range chicken along with gluten-free and even vegan sides based on farmer's market produce.

[Amanda Chapman and Johnny Zone at Hattie B's in Nashville]

For those that are unfamiliar in L.A., Nashville hot chicken is a specialty that fuses fried chicken with super-spicy sauce, similar to Buffalo wings, but not as thickly laid on. It's also often served with white bread and pickles. When Howlin' Ray's launches some time in early June, Zone will travel with his wife and partner Amanda Chapman around farmer's markets and food truck destinations. The eventual goal is to go brick-and-mortar, though a location hasn't been pegged yet. A preliminary menu is below, for anyone who wants to start salivating now.