Wingfest seems like a battle of the wings, but the war is fought by sauces. The Labatt Bleu-Blue Q wings are a barbecue sauce-based wing with blue cheese crumbles, bacon and Labatt Blue beer from Virginia-based The Dirty Buffalo. That’s because all participating wing vendors begin on an even playing field.
Organizers fry all of the festival’s wings then distribute the drums and flats to each vendor. It’s up to each chef to gussy up their wings enough to stand out among the competition. Sometimes, things get a little wacky.
There are 25 food vendors in total and most of them sell wings, with some of the vendors providing other food such as ice cream and pierogi. Here are some of the more unconventional wings to try at the two-day National Buffalo Wing Festival on Aug. 31 and Sept.
1 at Highmark Stadium. It’s a prime opportunity to try something new, since more than half of the vendors aren’t local, and you can always get a great hot wing close to home. Loki’s Charms at Just Wingin’ It Béarnaise sauce is quite popular in Iceland, home of Wingfest’s only European restaurant, Just Wingin’ It .
It’s a French emulsion – similar to the hollandaise sauce you’ll find on eggs Benedict – made of butter, egg yolks, tarragon leaves and vinegar. Bearnaise is used in Loki’s Charms wings from Iceland’s Just Wingin’ It and owner Justin Shouse. Just Wingin’ It owner Justin Shouse uses béarnaise in his Loki’s Charms wings, which Wingfest attendees often c.
