Saucy Chicken – Memphis Flyer

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Philipp von Holtzendorff-Fehling says he would often see people leave the Crosstown Concourse and return with big bags of food. (Those bags were not, by the way, from Mama Gaia.) He’s seeing those same folks lining up at his newest investment Saucy Chicken.

Opening Saucy Chicken was simply a matter of giving the people what they want, not a 180 turn on healthy eating principles.

As von Holtzendorff-Fehling explains, Mama Gaia’s organic ingredients were expensive, which made the meals pricy. Chicken, even locally sourced, antibiotic-free chicken is cheaper. Hence, Saucy Chicken was able to offer bigger plates of food for cheaper prices.

“If people are happy, then I’m happy,” he says.

von Holtzendorff-Fehling says he had little to do with the concept — just that he wanted something unique that would fit the Crosstown vibe.

He brushes off the lack of transparency regarding the other investors, saying it’s not all that unusual.

Ultimately, he says, “Mama Gaia is my passion and a business. Saucy Chicken is not a passion, it’s a business for me.”

Announced this morning: Saucy Chicken opens today at 10:30 a.m. in the Crosstown Concourse in the space that once held Mama Gaia.

Here’s the release:

Saucy Chicken, a fast-casual restaurant offering traditional Southern cuisine, announced today it is now open for business in Crosstown Concourse.

With antibiotic-free chicken and dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, Saucy Chicken focuses on creating affordable, quality food that caters to the palates of Mid-Southerners.
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“Those of us who grew up below the Mason-Dixon know a thing or two about cooking up mouth-watering Southern fare,” said Shauntel Steward, Saucy Chicken restaurant manager. “Saucy Chicken’s offerings are made with love by team members who have a passion for comfort food. I’m looking forward to sharing the dishes I grew up on with our customers.”

Saucy Chicken’s name derives from the various homemade sauces it will offer to accompany its Southern-inspired dishes. Chef Celina Webb, formerly of Alchemy, created six signature sauces from scratch that will be made in-house daily. Sauces include Saucy Chicken’s signature Saucy Sauce and Crosstown Comeback, bleu cheese, honey mustard, ranch, house barbecue, spicy mustard and sweet and spicy. There are also options for tossed tenders, including garlic parmesan, buffalo, house barbecue, sweet and spicy and the signature Saucy Wing Sauce. Webb will also develop daily plate specials and dessert specials to add variety to the menu.

“Saucy Chicken will give our vertical village visitors a taste of something Memphis knows a lot about – Southern hospitality,” said Todd Richardson, co-leader of the Crosstown Concourse. “Crosstown’s restaurant lineup now spans the cuisine spectrum, and I believe this endeavor will prove to be wildly successful.”

In addition to fried chicken, Saucy Chicken’s menu also boasts grilled chicken, shrimp and catfish po’boys, deli sandwiches, salads and more. The restaurant will be open Monday-Friday from 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
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About Saucy Chicken:
Founded in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2018, Saucy Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant inspired by traditional Southern cuisine. It is a sustainable establishment offering antibiotic-free chicken and dishes featuring locally-sourced ingredients at affordable prices.

It’s a 180 turn from Mama Gaia’s all-vegetarian focus. Saucy Chicken is owned by an ownership group which includes Philipp von Holtzendorff-Fehling, co-owner of Mama Gaia with his wife Cru, who is not involved in the restaurant. Obsidian