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Fine-dining chefs getting 'Funky' with fast casual concept

Father-and-son Chefs Bryan and Bradley Ogden step out of their comfort zone to open fast casual chicken concept.

February 13, 2014 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although fine dining is the specialty of Chef Bradley Ogden and his son, Chef Bryan Ogden, the duo is thriving in the fast casual market with their newest restaurant in the Heights neighborhood of Houston. Funky Chicken, which opened in December 2013, serves comfort food, including roasted and fried chicken, but the Ogdens use only local, farm-to-table ingredients.

"I'm jumping into fast casual because it gives me an opportunity to showcase my cooking philosophy to a much broader audience. One that can experience my food in an affordable atmosphere," said Bradley Ogden, known for his namesake, James Beard award-winning restaurant on the Vegas Strip.

Chef Bradley Ogden

Besides chicken made from farm-raised natural, organic and humanely cared for birds, Bradley has created "funky style" pot pies with buttermilk-biscuit crust served in individual or family-style portions. Although the menu also includes standard items found in many chicken restaurants, including a chicken sandwich, salads and sides, Bradley claims it's nothing like its competitors.

"The only thing that's the same is that we serve chicken," he said. "Our approach is much more focused using the seasons and quality sourced products, not cost of goods percentages as our driving force."

Funky Chicken also serves traditional mac and cheese, and vegetarians have an option with Gardein, a vegetarian chicken substitute that satisfies that home-cooked craving.

The 70-seat restaurant, designed by Davis Ink of Southern California, has an open layout with a modern, urban look, said Bradley, who plans to eventually open more company-owned locations.

"We are on track to meet our forecasted numbers and the press for Funky Chicken has been tremendous," Bradley said. "Houston has welcomed us with open arms."

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All photos courtesy of Funky Chicken.

About Cherryh Cansler

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Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

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