What is this?!

Irate Chicken is a free, ~500-word Substack published every other week by me, Cabelle. It’s dedicated to two things: ratings of chicken dishes I eat (mostly in NYC—“I rate chicken!”), and one historical fact tied either to the dish itself or to an artwork featuring a chicken. It’s both a cultural history of the world via chickens, plus restaurant reviews via their chicken.

Who are you??

Almost twenty years ago, I trained to be a chef in Paris. I then traded the City of Lights for dim library basements to become an art historian of French art (PhD, Harvard). But I never stopped cooking or delving into some of the foundational culinary histories that still shape how we eat, from La Varenne to Carême.

Now I’m an arts writer based in Brooklyn. You can see my publication list here, and yes: a shocking number of those pieces have been fueled by the chicken I’ve eaten.

Why chickens?

Because they’re delicious 😋.

Also, they’re the leading source of protein in the U.S., second-leading source globally, and poultry have been showing up in art since Ancient Egypt…making the chicken a perfect motif to track through canvases and bellies across millennia.

Is this sponcon?

No, I select and pay for all of my chicken(s).

What falls under the chicken umbrella?

Mostly chicken in all forms—eggs, roosters, hens, the whole extended family. Occasionally I’ll wander into other poultry (duck, pigeon, goose, etc.).

What’s up with the logo?

That’s Ira, an irate chicken forged in the depths of Canva. He’s ready for his last stand against diners with his lil’ pitchfork. 😡🐔

Do I have to pay for this?

Lol no. At the end of the day I’m just a girl that likes to eat chicken.

Subscribe below if you care about poultry in Dutch still lifes, the lives of Label Rouge chickens, or the perfect poulet rôti.

How do I stay up to date?

Every new post lands directly to your inbox. You can also use the Substack app for a phone-friendly access to the latest posts and the publication archives.