Mr Sanders

Auckland chef Hercules Noble is launching a fine-dining series with a fried chicken twist. From Wednesday, March 20–Friday, March 22, Noble will serve up five courses of KFC at his first restaurant, which is aptly named Mr Sanders — as in Colonel Sanders.

The menu highlights the fine-dining elements of fried chicken, and will match each dish with wine as well — but Noble is keeping the full five courses under wraps until the first session in mid-March. He has revealed one key clue: the hero dish of the experience will incorporate KFC's hot and crispy boneless chicken.

The chef has garnered a substantial following on social media over the past year, due to his famous video series Will It Sourdough?. The series sees Noble infusing quirky ingredients into his loaves of bread, with some attempts including a full English breakfast, sour gummy lollies and carbonara. Noble said it wouldn't be right to not include his sourdough skills in the Mr Sanders menu, alluding to a possible potato and gravy loaf.

The restaurant will be located on Ponsonby Road, giving late-night party people a fancier option to their drunken meal of choice. Mr Sanders will even look like a fine-dining joint, taking inspiration from some of its Ponsonby neighbours, with the fitout including neon lights and creative table settings.

Tickets cost $99 just for the five-course meal, or $129 with matched wine. Both options include a cocktail or mocktail upon arrival.