Nando's

[tarannau]

they're ok but a bit overrated in my opinion. the last time i went their idea of spicy wedges or whatever they call them just seemed to be sprinkling excessive amounts of paprika on top

I can't say I've heard that much critical acclaim for Nando's if I'm honest, but I like them anyway: when they're working well they're a fine example of excellent fast food. Freshly cooked tasty chicken; often discounted to low prices, a selection of fine sauces, a good choice of side dishes, refillable drinks .... and booze too. Pretty exemplary for a chain if you ask me.

They do a pretty good piri-piri chicken ime, the equal of many a holiday meal I've had in Portugal. We're lucky enough to have a few better options around Brixton and Stockwell (where there's a large Portuguese community) but Nando's certainly acquits itself well. And so what if they're a bit hot - the Portuguese helped introduce the chilli to most of the world after all!

Compared to Pizza Hut and rival stodgy pizza chains and the masses of KFC style Maryland chicken joints they're a godsend.

 

[PacificOcean]

Why are places like Nando's OK while KFC or Subway and the like are pillored?

 

[Hollis]

Why are places like Nando's OK while KFC or Subway and the like are pillored?

Its probably a class thing.. Its the same with nutrition.. mention McD and people will go on and on and on about how bad it is for you.. Then look at the nutritional content of a Sainsbury's packet of sandwiches.

Of course, Nando's aren't nearly as large or powerful as KFC.

 

[tarannau]

Why are places like Nando's OK while KFC or Subway and the like are pillored?

Because Nando's cooks their food from fresh and there's a wider range of side dishes and healthy options. Alcohol too. And it seems much more welcoming to families, many of whom seem to enjoy the more civilised sit down approach.

I can't speak for everyone, but I've often found myself partially defending KFC and Subway from undue criticism - I dislike them mainly, but there are places which have a worse effect on the British diet and environment, like Greggs or Tesco. Still doesn't mean I find them creditable - both of them serve bum standard pre-prepared food from industrialised suppliers of dubious nutritional benefit.

Nando's at least tries a different formula involving some fresh food and on the spot cooking - credit to them.

 

[tarannau]

And piss off with your stirring spoon as well Hollis. You're getting as predictable as a McD's burger in your delivery.

 

[Hollis]

Because Nando's cooks their food from fresh and there's a wider range of side dishes and healthy options. Alcohol too. And it seems much more welcoming to families, many of whom seem to enjoy the more civilised sit down approach.

I can't speak for everyone, but I've often found myself partially defending KFC and Subway from undue criticism - I dislike them mainly, but there are places which have a worse effect on the British diet and environment, like Greggs or Tesco. Still doesn't mean I find them creditable - both of them serve bum standard pre-prepared food from industrialised suppliers of dubious nutritional benefit.

Nando's at least tries a different formula involving some fresh food and on the spot cooking - credit to them.

Fair enough.. I didn't see McD getting much credit for their salad range though..

 

[Hollis]

And piss off with your stirring spoon as well Hollis. You're getting as predictable as a McD's burger in your delivery.

My thread.. I'll do what the fuck I like with it!

Don't like it go fuck yourself.

 

[Hollis]

And it seems much more welcoming to families, many of whom seem to enjoy the more civilised sit down approach.

Very dodgy comment.... oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

 

[tarannau]

Fair enough.. I didn't see McD getting much credit for their salad range though..

That's because they're still bum standard pre-prepared chlorine rinsed salads though, albeit one covered in a fat encrusted spunk-shaded and calorie-filled dressing. Healthy my arse.

Still, each to his own and everything in moderation. I'm quite partial to a crappy burger once in a while, but I draw the line at a crappy salad. Where's the fun in that eh!

And you don't own the thread you wind-up merchant. I'll call your predictable wind-uppery when I see it too...

 

[Hollis]

I'll call your predictable wind-uppery when I see it too...

Golly gosh.. well won't that be jolly fun! I'm so scared!!!

 

[LDR]

Because Nando's cooks their food from fresh and there's a wider range of side dishes and healthy options.

I'm not sure that's true actually. I had a mate from NZ who came over to the UK about the same time I did and he was a fully qualified chef. He worked at a Nandos for about a year and said there was hardly any cooking involved at all. It was all pre-packaged stuff that was heated up.

At least I think it was Nandos, he also worked at TFI's as well.

 

[Hollis]

tarannau invariably full of crap.. (whether or not he eats it)..

BOOM! BOOM!

 

[tarannau]

Very dodgy comment.... oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

It's because they've got cutlery and real glasses Mr Stirrer, not because I'm trying to make a class-based distinction.

And everyone knows that glass is more classy than plastic. Even if you pronounce it 'Plars-tic'

 

[tarannau]

I'm not sure that's true actually. I had a mate from NZ who came over to the UK about the same time I did and he was a fully qualified chef. He worked at a Nandos for about a year and said there was hardly any cooking involved at all. It was all pre-packaged stuff that was heated up.

At least I think it was Nandos, he also worked at TFI's as well.

Nah, they definitely cook and season chicken to order. That's why you have that stupid chicken marker thing and occasionally get uncooked chicken. As their main speciality is chicken, that's pretty creditable in my eyes

Most of the stuff is prepared in advance as you suggest mind; salads and deserts are certainly brought in. Most fast food chains reduce the 'cooks' to pretty much no responsibility, relying on 'fail safe' standardised processes to reduce liability and wages.

TFI's an interesting one. Used to be fairly fresh, but was then bought by Whitbread. Portions sizes rationalised, pretty much everything deep fried now. Deliveries of food from the same place that supplies Burger King IIRC.

 

[boohoo]

I was told about Weatherspoons microwaving practices which has put me off eating there. Also there was egg shell in my scrambled egg last time I went there

 

[Hollis]

It's because they've got cutlery and real glasses Mr Stirrer, not because I'm trying to make a class-based distinction.

And everyone knows that glass is more classy than plastic. Even if you pronounce it 'Plars-tic'

Oh yes you are.. by proxy! Your lazy m/c values come to the fore again.

 

[tarannau]

I was told about Weatherspoons microwaving practices which has put me off eating there. Also there was egg shell in my scrambled egg last time I went there

Wetherspoon's food is amazing to watch though. The pies in particular were remarkable. You get a big tray of frozen gunk which you cut up and portion into small pie dishes (16 from each tray). You then microwave for a 3.45 minutes (precisely) and then stick a flat pastry disc on top.

Pop in a high powered convection oven for a few secs and this huge puff pastry thing emerges, like something out of Will Wonka's factory.

Everything in Wetherspoons is deep fried, grilled or microwaved to simple crib card instructions, with the exception of the Sunday Roasts in some pubs. Everything's from the same supplier too...

 

[tarannau]

Oh yes you are.. by proxy! Your lazy m/c values come to the fore again.

Said the man who hangs around Wood Green's 'Cultural Quarter' in his cravat, singing the praises of arch RADA uberfop Tudor Ball.

Arsebiscuits to you and your trollery fella. Cutlery and glass aren't generally seen as middle class fripperies in the UK...

 

[Hollis]

Said the man who hangs around Wood Green's 'Cultural Quarter' in his cravat, singing the praises of arch RADA uberfop Tudor Ball.

Arsebiscuits to you and your trollery fella....

Whatever..

 

[Hollis]

Cutlery and glass aren't generally seen as middle class fripperies in the UK...

I'm afraid you're still inferring that there's something 'less civilised' about eating in KFC/McDonalds


You can sit down in both establishments you know.

 

[fractionMan]

I'm afraid you're still inferring that there's something 'less civilised' about eating in KFC/McDonalds

They're all shit. Apart from KFC.

 

[Hollis]

Yes - and the people who eat there are a less civilised. Personally I'll only eat out at the Ivy these days. Oh yes.

 

[tarannau]

Yes - and the people who eat there are a less civilised. Personally I'll only eat out at the Ivy these days. Oh yes.

Hmm. He's off on the wind-up mission again. I've said nothing about the people Hollis

Course you can sit down in a KFC or Subway, but you deliberately miss the point in your haste to troll;you have to wait for your food in Nando's like a conventional restaurant,. You get your own glass to fill up, more time to lounge on the table, and you get proper cutlery and are trusted with a large variety of sauces too, not in little sachets or cheap squeeze bottle, And they've even made the tables slightly less formica, unlike KFC which tries encourage more rapid throughfare.

It's all perception and arse of course, but you can't deny that Nando's has been deliberately branded to encourage a more relaxed sit-down eating experience and get away frm the yanky-ised finger food approach. And nope - you can't accuse any class of being associated with finger-eating in the UK - it's a widespread traditional folly to believe that 'civilised' meals use cutlery. I don't agree of course - I'm all too happy to shovel my fingers around roti and suck crab claws like the best of my family.

Actually, why I am bothering to justify things to you. ya big stirrer...

 

[Hollis]

Yeah.. yeah.. whatever..

 

[MysteryGuest]

I think we should organise an urbanites Nando's meetup.

 

[Badgers]

I don't know why but I hate them so much. This thread is only getting bumped because the mere fact they exist makes is making me angry.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

I don't know why but I hate them so much. This thread is only getting bumped because the mere fact they exist makes is making me angry.

And this is why we love you

 

[MrCurry]

Apologies for the massive thread bump, but does anyone know how Nandos prepares and cooks its chicken? The on-the-bone chicken portions I’m thinking, as I know these days they do all sorts of burgers and wraps and stuff too.

I mean I know they finish it on the grill in the restaurant, and the first stage prep must be a long marination in their sauce, but I’m thinking there’s a middle step which I’m unsure of, because I’ve tried grilling chicken from raw and it don’t come out anything Nandos.

Nandos chicken is tender, moist (as long as they don’t over grill it at the final stage) and not burnt on the outside. Grill from raw and it’s a lot less tender, a lot more coloured and dry on the outside and just not in the same ballpark. Also for food safety reasons, I can’t see them entrusting cooking the chicken from raw to their chefs in each restaurant, so for all these reasons I assume what they send out to the restaurants is precooked to some degree and just needs grilling to finish it.

I’m assuming they marinade in vacuum bags and sous vide it still in the same bag, then chill down and deliver to the shops for final grill to heat thru and finish. Has anyone here worked at a Nandos and knows anything about this?

I don't know why but I hate them so much. This thread is only getting bumped because the mere fact they exist makes is making me angry.

Cover your eyes...

 

[Badgers]

Nandos chicken is tender

Have you been drinking?

 

[dessiato]

Peri Peri Chicken (Nando’s Copycat)

This easy version of Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken can be on your table in well under an hour. Serve with my coconut lime rice and corn on the cob for a feast that looks fancy, but is actually really easy peasy – promise I won’t tell!

www.easypeasyfoodie.com

How do Nando’s cook their chicken. - The Meat Thief | Outdoor Event Catering & Grazing Tables

How Do Nando's Cook Their Chicken? Nando’s might have had humble beginnings in 1987, but today this restaurant enjoys huge success all over the globe. Today there are 1000 outlets in 30 countries. This is an international restaurant chain from South African boasting Portuguese and Mozambican...

themeatthief.co.uk