Yes, World Wide Web Wacky Wing Wednesday. WWWWWW. This is where I will surf the Web, and find other people talking about chicken wings. The world is full of chicken wing stories, wacky and otherwise. Recipes, restaurant reviews, eating contests or whatever. Today's Blog relating to wings in some shape or form:
The Waffle: A pragmatic foodie’s politically incorrect view from the left.
I've been following The Waffle off and on since arriving in Ottawa. A foodie blog about food I like to eat with some political leanings. What I didn't realize was that the blog is written by Senior Press Secretary Karl Bélanger of the federal NDP. Wowsers.
The above is a photo from Al's Diner, a working class joint. These are from wing night, which I have eyed before on their sign driving past this eatery. Might have to check them out for myself . . . 
Karl samples wings from the mecca of wing joints, The Anchor Bar (not his first trip), where he opted for hot as their heat level: "I pledged for hot – after all, that’s how they were meant to be eaten." My kind of guy. I too went to the Anchor Bar a few years ago and had some tasty wings.
It's been about 8 years since I have been to the SkyDome in Toronto (also known as the Rogers Centre, a name which I refuse to officially acknowledge beyond this sentence) but apparently they have wings now. Quaker Steak & Lube wings in fact - the only official entry of this chain into Canada. Mr Bélanger seemed to get some really good looking wings, if not pricey (but in line with stadium prices). I went to the original on my Great Wing Tour but didn't have wings that looked as good as his did.
I like his attitude on wings. For example, when reviewing frozen PC salt and pepper wings, his comments are dead on: "I do not buy frozen wings very often, I prefer to make them fresh, usually on the grill. Frozen, they are not always good. It is also very difficult to duplicate the fresh deep-fried versions offered at your favourite joint, and they never come anywhere close to the never frozen, double deep fried critters you can get at Wild Wing."
Speaking of Wild Wing, he has a big review of Wild Wings, and a list of his top 25 flavours. Lucky guy has got to sample way more than I have. I had read his review before, but somehow missed that he had included this blog again!
I think Karl and I could definitely enjoy a bucket of wings together from any number of places. So if your interested in wings, in poutine, or some good grub with a dash of Canadian politics, The Waffle is a great blog to check out. Thanks for the shout outs!
Was excited to hear that Quaker Steak has made its way into Canada (closest one to Toronto is in Buffalo) but then I saw 1) it's at "the Dome" and 2) it's only a take-out counter (saw the pictures on the Dome web site) Kind of disappointed about this as ever since the Hard Rock Cafe moved out, prime retail space is available for a full service restaurant.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I still dislike the new name of that stadium and I hope that Quaker Steak decides to open more (full service) restaurants... say, maybe one in Ottawa??
You're making me want to have wings for breakfast!
ReplyDeleteFried chicken and waffles is a classic dish here in the US, so I thought this post was going to be a spin on that using wings and waffles. Odd combination I know.
ReplyDeleteChristopher - Too bad QS&L hasn't moved bigger faster into Ontario.
ReplyDeleteTeena - I want wings for breakfast!
Chris - The very first time I saw it I thought that too. I could go for chicken & waffles right now.