If Americans eat the most chicken wings — an estimated 1.4 billion-plus — on Super Bowl Sunday, why is National Chicken Wing Day on July 29?
A little background: This faux fowl holiday was hatched in 1977 by Buffalo, New York, Mayor Stan Makowski where poultry pioneer Teressa (Guzzo) Bellissimo and husband Frank ownedAnchor Bar.
As legend has it, on March 4, 1964, she whipped up a few wings usually used for her chicken stock then tossed them with a spicy sauce when her son and his friends wanted something late that night.
The next day, wings were on the menu. Sixty years later, Anchor Bar boasts a dozen locations across the United States and Canada.
Alas, there’s no franchise in Southwest Florida.But there are hundreds of choices in a region packed with wing-frying bars.
Where to go? Check out JLB’s top 5 wing-spanning guide to the best in Bonita, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples.
Brooks Burgers
Though Brooks earned a national reputation based on what’s between its buns, wings are a thing too. I visited the original location, whose space has doubled in the past year and now serves co*cktails. But I can’t be near the joint’s vicinity without ordering a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake; it came in handy to temper the forthcoming fire ignited in my mouth. I didn’t feel the least bit guilty about the calories either because there’s scientific proof that a shake’s casein and sucrose help break down the wings' heat-inducing capsaicin compound.
A basket mixing 10 flats and drums arrived super hot from the fryer with a nicely seasoned coating the Colonel would covet. Not all six sauces are listed on the dining-in menu as they are on its online carryout. I initially ordered three delivered in tiny cups working my way from hot to brutal: Korean BBQ, Buffalo and spicy Cajun, holy moly hot.
When my server was checking up on me, insisting on bringing water after seeing my nose running, eyes tearing and my face reddening, he told me there was another sauce, garlic hot.
Bring it on.
A good thing rolls of paper towels top every table: I used 10 sheets to mop my fingers and every bit of my face when all was said and done. It wasn't pretty, but I'd happily do it again.
Three Naples locations: 330 Ninth St. S.; 239-262-1127 and 845 Vanderbilt Beach Road; 239-631-8298; brooksburgers.com; Brooks Grill & Tavern is at 2220 Logan Blvd. N., 239-451-6397; brooksgrillandtavern.com
Buffalo Chips
Before you step foot into this upscale dive in Bonita Springs, you’ll know how serious it is about wings. “Home of the Wing King” and “Over 12 Million Wings Served” are plastered on the restaurant’s ginormous buffalo-logoed sign near the rear entryway. The city’s oldest family-run restaurant opened in 1982 and, according to our server, has had the same owner, same cook and same award-winning secret wing sauce recipes the entire time. And they do not disappoint.
The true Buffalo style wings are plump, juicy, crispy, chewy perfection. Order them anywhere from BBQ (lip-smacking sweet) to Death (good luck with that). Medium, Zippy Cajun, Suicide and Thai Chili are the most popular in ascending heat order, but you won’t go wrong with whatever you choose. The Wing King will see to that.
Buffalo Chips, 26620 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs; 239-947-1000; buffalochipsrestaurant.tv
Hurricane Grill & Wings
This Florida-based chain has been serving up jumbo wings since opening in Fort Pierce in 1995. Thanks to the popularity of those wings and its beer, it expanded to 30 locations in Florida (including Cape Coral), plus franchises in Alabama, Arizona, California, Kansas, New York and Texas.
With 35 flavors, there’s something for all wing fans. Signature wings range from a mild creamy lemon pepper to a roasted garlic inferno for those who can stand serious heat. Options continue with classic Buffalo wings (from mild garlic parm to ridiculously hot), BBQ, Asian inspired, sweet and spice rubs too. All are cooked to order and served with celery and ranch or bleu cheese.
Hurricane Grill & Wings, 756 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral; (239) 800-3141; hurricanewings.com
Lazy Flamingo
More than half of the menu at this neighborhood raw bar & grill at Four Winds Marina in Bokeelia is seafood. But look closely, under the fish taco, grouper basket and mussels marinara, and you’ll see it – an entry for Buffalo wings. Don’t overlook it.
Even without sauce, these wings would be outstanding. And Lazy Flamingo knows it. You won’t find wings drowning in sauce here. Choose mild, hot, teriyaki, teri-hot or dead parrot (order these “very, very hot wings” at your own risk) and just the right amount of sauce will be used to highlight the wing’s flavor without overwhelming it.
You’ll want to slowly savor every bite. And you’ll gladly do it with that picture-perfect waterfront view.
Lazy Flamingo, 16501-B Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia, (239) 283-5959, lazyflamingo.com/Bokeelia; there's another location at 12951 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers, (239) 476-9000
Midnight Tavern
Midnight might be a misnomer: This terrific pub with grub designed for instant gratification stays open until 2 a.m. feeding area hospitality workers’ post-shift munchies. Early in the day, you’re more likely to encounter local shorts-wearing seniors grooving to Bob Seger and similar '70s rockers on the playlist.
As for the terrific wings, six is the magic number for sauce selections and a BOGO deal running through Sept. 30: buy six, get six, save $11. It’s OK to mix and match sauces. Personal favorites include mild (anything but), Thai chili, honey-garlic and barbecue. While you’re at it, don’t skip “Emma’s Loaded Taters,” a mashup of hash browns with old-school potato skin fixins: cheese, bacon and scallion.
Midnight Tavern, 2800 Davis Blvd., Naples;239-732-5400;midnighttavernfl.com
Jean Le Boeuf is the brand under which our restaurant critics have written for more than 40 years. This articlecame from food writers Robyn George (rhgeorge@gannett.com) and Diana Biederman (diana.biederman@naplesnews.com).
