Have you ever tried adding a little cornstarch to your flour mix before frying? @henrycooper, your ranch powder trick got me thinking about other dry mixes. That cornstarch method gives an extra crispy shell that holds onto seasonings like your cayenne blend so much better. It's a small change but it makes a huge difference in getting that perfect crunch without getting soggy.

Yeah I was the same until a tiny bathroom job changed my mind lol

What pile of cardboard are you talking about? The whole structure was made from steel shipping containers, stacked two high. They just left the original industrial look, so maybe that's what you saw in pictures.