History of International Chicken Wing Day
Believe it or not, Americans have been celebrating a day dedicated to Chicken Wings for over four decades! The former mayor of Buffalo, Stan Makowski, officially declared International Chicken Wing Day back in 1977.
Many refer to chicken wings as ‘Buffalo wings’ as Buffalo was the city of the original invention of this lip-smacking dish. The actual birthplace of these Buffalo wings was Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. The son of the bar’s founder, Teressa Bellissimo, wanted to treat his friends to a late-night fried dish. He air-fried the wings reserved for soup stock and mixed them with a yummy sauce — and this led to the creation of the modern-day Buffalo wings. However, on International Chicken Wing Day, the limelight is on all kinds of wings.
Chicken wings are perfect when they are crispy on the outside with the meat inside cooked all the way through while retaining its juices. The most important element is the sauce, with hot sauce bringing out that heat and sweet sauces being full of flavor. They are even served with celery, carrots, or other crunchy veggies to provide a balanced taste palate.
Chicken wings have gained exponential popularity with chicken wing festivals mushrooming almost everywhere. The National Buffalo Wing Festival remains the most famous event. Several years after the inception of these chicken wings, McDonald’s, followed by KFC and Domino’s Pizza, introduced their own hot wings.
Now Chicken Wings are not just eaten in the U.S. but in all parts of the world such as Canada, India, Mexico, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and many more. Who wouldn’t want an entire day dedicated to this dish that makes us salivate as soon we hear the name!