Asha Starks, the owner of Hot Grease, likely will adopt a fierce tone if you dare to compare her fish fry to British fish and chips.
At her new O.C.-based pop-up, she specializes in fried fish rooted in historical Black cookery. Taking inspiration from fried chicken, her fried snapper is marinated in buttermilk, then dipped in a cornmeal seasoning with a specific spice blend, which she believes provides a deeper golden fry.
Each order comes with the choice of thin or thick fries, a slice of lemon, hot sauce, and housemade tartar sauce, made bright by copious amounts of dill.
It’s exceptionally flavorful, with a level of freshness in every bite. Yet, Starks has no formal culinary training, just a love of home cooking and an avid Food Network viewing habit from a young age…