The one where things get really spicy…
This post is in praise of chicken wings. Once discarded, or used for stock, they’re now enjoyed as they should be. Soft and buttery from a confit cook. Crispy and deep fried. Or a vehicle for something a little more spicy.
Now, London’s Wing Fest is heading north, to Manchester. The event started in a car park in London with a handful of traders. This year in London 120,000 wings will be served by 35 street food traders, restaurants and BBQ teams. And Wing Fest hope to mimic their success in London by serving 60,000 wings served by 20 different traders on First Street in September.
To help launch the event, Wing Fest held an event at Yard and Coop in the Northern Quarter, where things began with an eating competition.
Of course they did.
Eight wings, five contenders, three two one…
But there was yet more to come. Something spicy, brought by Dr Sweetsmoke. His lava sauce.
Al Harris, aka Dr Sweetsmoke knows a lot about barbecue and even more about making a hot sauce so spicy it can have competitors in tears. No wonder it’s kept in a sealed flask in a locked box (and he only handles it with gloves).
There were… volunteers. There was heat. There was sweating, runny noses, red faces and maybe a little drooling.
Ouch.
Both of these competitions are expected at Wing Fest, so if you think you can take the heat… You’d best get entering. That’s not the only competition on the day either. You get to use the Wing Fest voting app to pick who has the best wings over the two day event.
Either way, you’ve got to be in it to win it.
Now for the information bit. Tickets are on sale now, and there are a number of options. Prices start from £17.50 (includes trucker hat, bottle of beer, and bottle of barbecue sauce). Under 12s go free.
All wings cost £1. Yes I know, we’re northern. And no, it’s not Bunny Jacksons 20p wings. Sorry. (I love you Bunnies, will be in soon for wings and beer). These wings are provided by the food traders, so with 20 traders, you will get loads of variety, and if you really want to get your money’s worth, enter one of the competitions?
As for me, it’s a cert I’ll be there. I mean… If they’re doing an ‘all you can eat’ style competition? Maybe I might just enter…
