insideKENT Magazine Issue 63 - June 2017 | Page 90

FOOD+DRINK
GOOD TIMES, GREAT FOOD AND A WORLD OF TASTE ADVENTURE AT
THE KOREAN COWGIRL
OK, I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE: WHEN I HEARD THAT I WAS GOING TO BE VENTURING
TO THE KOREAN COWGIRL, CANTERBURY’S LATEST HIP DINING VENUE, MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT
WAS “OH UM, KOREAN FOOD…LOVELY”. WHICH IS OF NO DISRESPECT TO KOREAN FOOD, BUT
MORE BECAUSE I’M A PRETTY FUSSY EATER, SO IT WOULDN’T NATURALLY BE MY FIRST CHOICE
OF CUISINE…BUT, JUST LIKE THAT, I’D FALLEN STRAIGHT INTO THE TRAP OF JUST WHAT THE
KOREAN COWGIRL IS ALL ABOUT – IT’S NOT KOREAN FOOD AT ALL, AT LEAST NOT IN THE WAY
ONE WOULD EXPECT. By Samantha Ready
The Korean Cowgirl is, in fact, a nod to the worldwide culinary
adventures of two well-travelled friends who, on their return to home
turf, decided it was time to bring some of the wonderful tastes they’d
experienced back to the streets of Kent.
Deciding to keep their menu simple, they’ve opted for two main food
delights – the authentic Texan low-and-slow BBQ smoking technique
that creates the ultimate BBQ beef brisket (the ‘Cowgirl’), and the relatively
unknown Korean fried chicken, (the ‘Korean’), which, in this incarnation,
offers double-fried wings and drumettes with the best crispy skin in a
range of sweet, sticky or spicy flavours.
The restaurant itself is a mix of Midwest rodeo – saddles, wooden seats
and bar stools, and backstreet Korean – graffiti strewn walls, and table-
embedded TVs playing Korean pop music videos, which is a bizarre
but charming touch. Settled at our windowside table all attention turned
to the menu, which was carefully explained by our host. Besides the
‘Cowgirl’ and the ‘Korean’ – the two stars of the show – you can opt
for pulled pork and pork ribs, or Cowgirl’s Baps - a cheeky way to offer
brisket, pork or halloumi in a bun, as well as a host of veggie options
and tantalising side dishes.
Without question, one of the best ways to eat here is to pick ‘The Dirty
Cowgirl’, a half pound of brisket, half pound of pulled pork, quarter rack
of ribs and three pieces of fried chicken as well as two side dishes –
hello parmesan truffle and sweet potato fries! My better half and I
decided to share the platter and we also opted for 12 pieces of Korean
fried chicken for the table.
This restaurant serves proper fried chicken: crispy, crunchy skin; sweet,
sticky flavour combinations; and tender, melting chicken. Despite our
initial reluctance to order so much, we devoured the whole lot, each
plumping for a different favourite flavour. The Dirty Cowgirl was a BBQ
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taste revelation too and the melt-
in-the-mouth, intense flavour of
the slow-cooked brisket gave way
to the sweetness of the sticky
pulled pork before we fought over
the most plump and juicy ribs
we’d ever seen. Home BBQ will
never be the same again.
Feeling full, but never ones to turn
down dessert, we ordered a Key
lime pie – fresh, sweet, zingy and
a great palate cleanser, it was
divine, and we were all instantly
hooked by the option to toast our
own accompanying
marshmallows. A proper BBQ pit
dessert with mini burner,
extending forks and a host of
sweet treats, biscuits, strawberries,
chocolate sauce and raspberry
coulis enabling you to assemble
your own ‘smores’, it was a great
sharer and the perfect ending
to an evening of good fun and
great food.
The Korean Cowgirl
13 Palace Street
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2DZ
01227 788 006
www.thekoreancowgirl.com
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