One of the better publicized food events in town--the second running of the UCP Heartland Wing Ding--is being held Thursday night, August 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Greensfelder Complex at Queeny Park, where 18 local restaurants will vie for awards across several categories, including a People's Choice. Twenty-five bucks buys you unlimited wings and two drinks; the $50 ticket includes unlimited drinks, reserved seating, and entree to a VIP Preview Party from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Get tickets here
The bigger news, though, is that there will be more judges in attendance (22 at last count) than restaurants, an impressive ensemble to say the least. Never have four food critics, a food magazine publisher, a certain Dining Editor, nine TV and radio personalities, assorted bloggers, notables, and foodie VIP's shared the same judging stage. Come for the wings, sure, but feel free to pick a bone with one of the judges, too. We're told the majority of them don't bite, but were unable to verify that information, Regardless, here's the dais:
Ian Froeb - Riverfront Times
Evan Benn - St. Louis Post Dispatch
Michael Renner - Sauce Magazine
Andrew Veety - St. Louis Magazine & FEAST Magazine, co-host Stewed STL
Catherine Neville - FEAST Magazine
George Mahe - St. Louis Magazine
Howard Balzer - KFNS
Dave Greene - KFNS
Jay Randolph Jr. - KFNS
David Craig – KFNS, FoodTalkStl.com
Monica Adams - Fox 2 News
April Simpson - Fox 2 News
Sara Dayley - Newschannel 5
Kevin McCarthy - Travel Planners Radio Show
Sue McCarthy - Travel Planners Radio Show
Chris Reimer - Rizzo Tee’s / Falk Harrison
Louis Maull - Maull's BBQ Sauce
Stephanie Tolle - chairmanstef.blogspot.com/
Kathryn Ver Hagen - Wing Lover
Scott Roberts - scottrobertsweb.com
Scott Thomas – grillinfools.com
Rick Forkosh – President & CEO, UCP Heartland
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And speaking of wings, twinOak Wood Fired Fare in Brentwood just announced Bottomless Wing Wednesdays, every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m., for $10. You'll like these wings; they're crisped in a wood-burning oven and served with six different sauces.
If that "gotta get some wings NOW" craving strikes you at lunchtime, check out the St. Louis Wing Co. in Rock Hill, where AYCE Wings is a daily affair, seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The kicker here: fries and a drink are included for $10.99. The Wing Co's wings come in 18 varieties and are served regular or "boneless" (a misnomer really, as these are wing-shaped pieces of real--not formed--breast meat).
With the price of chicken wings skyrocketing, how the owners of these establishments can offer deals like this confounds us. We blame the vinegar fumes...
