Chicken, Chips and Gravy with Aaron Gocs

“Australia – the lucky country”, I tend to agree. I mean it’s the only place I’ve ever been. I think when people say this quote they’re referring to the safety, the nature, the resources etc. But when I say it I’m referring to our chicken, chips and gravy scene. Everyday when we wake up we should realise how blessed we are to live in a safe, democratic country with easy access to great chicken shops. Some people don’t realise the lengths others have gone to just to know they’re giving their children a future that has tasty chicken in it. I myself made the decision recently to uproot my family from sunny Brisbane and move almost two thousand kilometres away in order to be near the wonderful Super Tasty Rooster shop in Melbourne. Hot, freshly cooked chicken, chips and gravy is one of lifes great enjoyments. You do have to strike while the iron is hot though – or in this case – while the chicken, chips and gravy are hot. If you let it get cold it can quickly go from a delicacy to a crook mess. Another thing to take note of in your chicken scene travels is stuffing. Personally I don’t expect stuffing, but when done well it can be quite a pleasant treat.

“I myself made the decision recently to uproot my family from sunny Brisbane and move almost two thousand kilometres away in order to be near the wonderful Super Tasty Rooster shop in Melbourne.”

I like to think there is a chicken enthusiast community out there full of people who agree with me. And I think we can all do little things to look out for one another. For example even though it’s scientifically proven that the leg is definitely the way to go – sometimes I will ask for another piece just so the next enthusiast to come along can enjoy the wonders of the leg as well, a small selfless act that can make a world of difference.

Another powerful thing about the chicken scene is its ability to bring us together. Recently when I was in Sydney, my friends Batesy and Morris insisted I come out to Punchbowl with them to try some delicious charcoal chicken. Punchbowl is a very multicultural suburb in the west of Sydney that I would otherwise not visit if not for chicken, which just goes to show that it has the power to unite us and bring us closer together as a society. Except for vegans – no time for them!

“I like to take notice of the artwork – if you find a cartoon style chicken that is happy or doing something cool like an extreme sport, I find this is always a good angle for a shop to take.”

The little quirks that I’ve found at each chicken shop I’ve come across in my travels is what makes them special. This is what separates the independents from the major chains – sure, you know what you’re getting with the big boys but where is the heart? I like to take notice of the artwork – if you find a cartoon style chicken that is happy or doing something cool like an extreme sport, I find this is always a good angle for a shop to take. As I visited the famous Kingsley’s in Canberra (famous in Canberra anyway) I was told by a local that a graphic designer suggested changing their artwork, to which he was firmly told that will not be an option. Another quirky element to chicken shop art is the animated chicken who seems to be having the time of his or her life – the chicken who is either surfing, skating or just an all-round party animal! It makes me think the chicken must be pretty stoked to know he’s about to get eaten. Then you think about the drinks selection at small suburban chicken shops. I love finding a fridge in a chicken shop stocked with the local beverages you have never seen before: the traditional classic creaming sodas, lime spiders and sarsaparillas. I often wonder how these little operations compete with the cokes and pepsis of this world.

The chicken scene says a lot about who we are as a people, and I look forward to living in a future that is inclusive of all walks of life – as long as they are tolerant of our chicken, chips and gravy. 

Aaron Gocs is a comedian who enjoys a good feed, good jokes and the occasional stitch up.

Illustrations by Cyrus Bezyan.

This is the fourth in a series of written commissions for Comedy Central Australia. Over the next few months we will showcase pieces from some of Australia's best comedians and writers. Keep your eyes peeled and subscribe to our newsletter down the bottom to stay in the loop. If you missed Gocsys last piece, check it out here. But make sure you watch this first: