Buffalo Style Grilled Chicken Breasts

The following recipe was prepared for our Chef Spotlight Dinner, highlighting Chef Bobby Flay. My friend Howard brought in this dish and it was one of my favorites ever. I'm not sure if it was the blue cheese topping or the subtle honey sweetness that shines through the kick of buffalo sauce... all I know is that it's a great, heartier recipe than any buffalo style chicken wing!

Buffalo Style Grilled Chicken Breasts
recipe from Bobby Flay

1 stick unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, chopped
8 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons ancho chili powder
1/2 cup hot sauce (recommended: Frank's)
2 tablespoons honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 French-cut chicken breasts
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons ground cumin (8 teaspoons)
Canola oil
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup creme fraiche
1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus some whole leaves for garnish
1 cup crumbled blue cheese (recommended: Cabrales)

Preheat the grill to medium; make sure the grill is ready for cooking over indirect heat. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the 2 tablespoons ancho powder and heat for 10 seconds. Stir in hot sauce and honey and season with salt and pepper. Remove about 1/4 cup for garnish, and keep both portions warm.

Season each side of the chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon each ancho powder, and cumin, and the salt and pepper. Drizzle canola oil over the both sides. Grill skin side down over medium heat, uncovered, until the skin is nicely charred.

Flip the chicken, moving it to indirect heat, and brush with a good amount of the hot sauce glaze. Cover and cook, brushing occasionally with sauce, until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Whisk together the heavy cream and creme fraiche in a medium bowl. Stir in the parsley and blue cheese and season with salt and pepper. When chicken is done, remove from the grill and spoon blue cheese sauce over each piece. Drizzle the 1/4 cup reserved glaze over and garnish with whole parsley leaves.