Roscoe's Blog.

By Nikki Turner - July 14, 2008 at 5:43pm EDT

For years, I've been procrastinating about going to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles—if for nothing else—I wanted to see what all the hype was about. The thing is: whenever I traveled, my schedule prevented me from visiting the renowned restaurant that had been talked about by so many people in and out of the media. Well, a couple of months before BEA (Book Expo of Amercia), my friend Pat kept telling me how she couldn't wait for us to get to her old stomping grounds. (She’s an LA girl that lives in Houston now). She said there were two musts on this trip: shopping, of course, and…..Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles!  My time had come... finally I’d be going to the famous chicken and waffles joint.

ReShonda Tate-Billingsly, Pat and I at Roscoe’s in Los Angles.

I'll admit, I was more intrigued by the first verses the second, but make no mistake about it, I’m always game for my small portion of some good food. Besides, Pat wasn't taking “no” for an answer; we were going to Roscoe's!
 
As usual, once I arrived in LA-LA Land, there was too much for me to do. If it wasn’t for my assistant constantly calling me, I probably wouldn’t have been able to keep up with all the meetings I was scheduled to attend. There was one with my agent, my publisher, my editor, film meetings, drinks with this one, lunch with that one and not to mention catching up with my author friends that nine times out of ten- I hadn’t seen since last BEA! Shout outs to all of the authors who are my peoples!

So….after a long day of handling my business, oh and we mustn’t forget the jet lag, I dosed off to sleep like a baby full off Similac and Rice cereal only to be jarred awake by a loud ringing phone. Not my cell, mind you, but the hotel phone, now- there is no vibrate on those old school phones so that’s one you can’t ignore - I would have to answer it if I wanted any peace...
 .
I reached for the phone hoping that I could get the person off quickly, and then fall back into my deep sleep - BUT before I could gather my bearings all I heard was- "Youuu’vvve got ONE HOUR TO GET READY!”  (Her voice was so animated and dramatic you have to hear her to understand what I’m talking about!).   

“I'M ON MY WAY! WE’RE GOING TO ROSCOE’S CHICKEN N WAFFLES, THEN WERE HITTING THE FASHION DISTRICT! YOU KNOW THAT WE’RE ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE - WE HAVE TO BE AT BEA by 2PM!"

She ran down the day’s itenerary so energetically.
 
Now that I think about it, I wish that I would have taped her and played the conversation back on this blog, because the girl is just too damn A-N-I-M-A-T-E-D. If you ever meet Pat on the street ! PLEASE! I’m begging you to do ME the favor and have a conversation with her, then tell me was I exaggerating. (smile)
 
SIDE BAR- Pat you know I love you girl- but I’m just keeping it real!  Plus I am giving my readers all the details of the story, as that’s what they depend on me to do.
 
OK- now back to the story at hand.  Now my Auntie Yvonne went to BEA with me this year - and when I looked across the hotel room to see if she was up- HELLO- somebody please tell me why had she been up for about three hours, had already taken her shower; talking about she still on East Coast time? Puh-lease!
 
I wanted to lay back down but instead I went on ahead I got myself up, stumbled to the shower and got dressed. (Now you know, you can't rush perfection, but I did what I had to do; pulled it all together on the short notice, and kept it moving!)
 
Once we arrived at Roscoe's I looked at the menu and suddenly something dawned on me: all they serve is CHICKEN! I mean I knew they were known for their Chicken and Waffles, but surely they’d have other traditional breakfast items too. I glanced the menu over for the second time looking for some meat: Fried chicken, Stewed chicken, Smothered chicken, Chicken omelets! Yes, chicken omelets! No Pork, No Beef! No Turkey Bacon-NOTHING! NADA! Chicken- that’s it, that’s all!
 
Now wait one minute- if you didn’t know, let me remind you -I'm from the South! I was like where's the Fatback? No Fried fish to go with the grits? Steak to go with the eggs?  Surely Roscoe got something other than chicken cooking up back there in that busy a$$ kitchen. Are they for real- not even any salmon cakes?

I was absolutely mortified!
  
To top it off why did Pat and the waiter look at me like I was speaking Chinese in Harlem? And to be honest, I think I was embarrassing Pat by stressing the fact that they had no other breakfast meat.  But I just couldn’t get over it. 
 
I was like, "How the hell can a breakfast place not have any damn Pork? And furthermore who don't know what Fatback is?"  Even if you don’t eat pork (anymore) at one time in your life Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie, or somebody in your family cooked it. 
 
Reshonda, and my Auntie Yvonne knew what was up, but Pat (who’s West Coast to the core) and the waiter were clueless. So, Reshonda and I begin to explain what fatback was while my auntie sat back and laughed at us all, and I’m sure the waitress thought I was crazy. After they assured me that there was no turkey, beef, or pork in the building, Pat did the honors and ordered for me.
 
I must say that the service was good and the company was fabulous!  It was a great place that I’m glad I went to if for nothing else but for the novelty.  Thanks Pat for insisting that we go.

But here’s the thing- so many people from the West Coast rave about Roscoe's from TuPac, (who you know I love), Snoop, Ice Cube and countless others all give the restaurant props in their songs, BUT SHOOT!!!!!!  I’m going to tell you right here and now that Nicey Turner’s (my mom) home-gourmet, down south breakfast is NO JOKE! It could dance circles around Roscoe’s.  Her homemade pancakes, waffles, the fried potatoes that she peels by hand and season up like you would not believe, her eggs are scrambled with just enough cheese, fried corn that melt in your mouth- oh and the fried apples with cinnamon…..OH MY GOODNESS IS ALL I CAN SAY…! 

Just thinking about it is making me want to throw the diet right out the window. 
As a matter of fact- I’m calling now to get her to make breakfast.  And if you were smart- if you ever in the Richmond, VA you might wanna holla at Nicey Turner and some of the best pancakes you’ve ever had in your life.  I know I am.
 
Gotta go: Nicey Turner’s bacon and waffles is calling me!
 
NT Out