#tbt & #lostreview - MYSTERY THAI STUFFED WINGS from OTTAWA in 2014

 It's time again for another #tbt & #lostreview !

This week is a complete mystery.

This is what I know: I was in Ottawa visiting LJ when her apartment was in Hintonburg. We got take-out or delivery that was either Vietnamese or Thai. That's all I know. Where were these Stuffed Chicken Wings from?!?!?!

When I saved these photos in 2014, I labeled them "Thai Stuffed Wings" ... but they actually look Vietnamese to me. But I don't know! Can you identify where they are from?

Two came in an order - both wingettes with the tips still on.

They were super crispy from being deep fried.

Look at that skin!

The inside seems to have been a mince of pork, carrot, maybe onion, maybe some sort of green vegetable. 

What I remember about them was that we were not crazy about them. They really needed a sauce to go with them because the inside was dry. 

When I asked LJ this week if she remembered them or where we got them, she had no idea about the restaurant, but she remembered not liking these. It reminded her of all the things she dislikes about egg rolls but in a chicken wing.

It's so weird that I didn't label it better or that after searching the internet, even old menus, I can't figure out where these chicken wings came from.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS STUFFED WING AND WHAT RESTAURANT IT CAME FROM???

#lotwwants2know

Farm Report #8 - Turning Red but also Some Regression?

 

I was happy to see at the end of last week peppers turning red. One sriracha and one cayenne. Plucked them off the plant with no problem, then put them in the fridge to wait for the others to ripen. Then found a sriracha on the ground not close to the pots. Did someone think they had found a nice snack? I've put him on the window sill in hopes it will turn red instead of the dark green that it is.

We had a big storm last night; they were calling for Tornadoes and a severe thunderstorm, so I relocated the plants close to the house. Found a few more little guys ready to come off. The storm was fierce but so very short. No damage which was good. 

The only negative I'm noticing is on the srirachas. Several seem to be having some sort of growth recession on the tips; I thought this was because they had been growing on lower branches and had been stunted, but I'm seeing others have this and not near a lower branch. If you know what is causing this, please let me know!!!

When I go to water them I think I will add some more Miracle Grow. There are already several smaller peppers growing. These plants are turning out to be much better than I thought I would pull off!

LOTW Meme Monday = Elvis Wings

 

Don't be cruel!

#nonwingsunday = BK's Sourdough Spicy Chicken Club

 

#nonwingsunday = @burgerkingcan Sourdough Spicy Chicken Club

This was a really tasty sandwich! I feel like a club needs a middle piece of bread but I'll overlook it. Crispy chicken with some nice spice, good bacon, fresh toppings. The bread was barely toasted, but it worked. pic.twitter.com/eIkuCG8ZyD

— LORD of the WINGS (@LordoftheWings) August 17, 2020

This is one of the few items I've had from a restaurant since the COVID times, and it was just soo good. 

Happy #fryday! Home Fried Wings

 

View this post on Instagram

Happy #fryday y'all!!! Is there anything better than crispy fresh wings from the fryer? Have a great weekend, stay safe, & fry on! #lordofthewingsblog #lordofthewings #wings #chickenwings #friedwings #tgif #wingporn

A post shared by LORD of the WINGS (@lotw_wingking) on Aug 14, 2020 at 12:20pm PDT

Is there? No, no there isn't.

COVID-19 Found with Frozen Chicken Wings - But it's ok

 If you were watching the news this week, you might have seen the same headline that doubled my fear of COVID-19:

Apparently China found cases of COVID-19 in frozen chicken wings that had been imported from Brazil. If COVID wasn't bad enough, it's going after chicken wings now?

But it seems things are not as bad as they sound according to WHO officials:

Some of the take-aways from the video:

• China has been testing on packaging, and tested a few hundred thousand samples and found less than 10 positive cases
• Virus can remain on surfaces, but can be in-activated on hands if you wash your hands or use alcohol base rub
• If virus is in food, as of August 12 2020 we have no examples of the virus being transmitted by food borne (consumed), the virus and other viruses are killed when the meat is cooked
• People should not fear food or food packaging but experts continue to do research

So simple rules to follow:

WASH YOUR HANDS

COOK YOUR CHICKEN WINGS

WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC (nothing to do with food, just do it!)

So stay safe and wing on!!!

Some official News reports:  

https://globalnews.ca/video/7272545/coronavirus-who-officials-discuss-food-safety-after-frozen-chicken-wings-test-positive-for-covid-19/

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/chinese-officials-say-chicken-wings-imported-from-brazil-tested-positive-for-covid-19-1.5062531

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/asia/china-coronavirus-chicken-wings-intl-hnk/index.html

JOE's WINGS + BURGERS Toronto ON 2014 - LOST REVIEW

- JOE'S is NOW CLOSED - RIP -

 It's Thursday so that means it's time for another #TBT & #lostreview

I'm continuing my giant cache of 2014 reviews that I never posted. This week I'm looking at Joe's Wings + Burgers, which unfortunately closed sometime between 2014 and 2015. What makes it double sad is that they opened up sometime in 2014, so this venture didn't last long.

I think Joe's first came to my attention when visiting the St Clair Ice Cream Factory Outlet, which is on the corner. It was also getting passed around on social media sites, so I decided to check it out. Also, it's Wings and Burgers, how could I not check it out? Other than it was a bit of a subway ride for me to get out there, I must have combined in a day I was already out and about with a day pass, because that's how I rolled back then.

The place was kinda empty except for what seemed like family. The place was modern and clean, with wood tables and benches, and grey painted walls with white to punch it up a bit. It's not big inside, but there was a decent amount of seating. At each table was your traditional fry condiments, and in chicken wing joint fashion, a roll of paper towel. 

Despite menus at the tables, I had to go up to the counter to order. The staff were really friendly and I felt really welcome there. The menu is small; it's basic burgers and wings, but it's good to focus and keep it simple. There were only a few wing flavours to choose from: plain, mild, medium, hot, teriyaki, and garlic Parmesan. I went with hot.

The prices were really really reasonable, so I got a burger with bacon ($4.59 for the burger and $0.75 for the bacon), and a small order of wings ($5.19 for 6). 

This is a direct quote about the burger: "woah, was it ever good!" It was a medium sized patty that they clearly formed themselves, because it fell apart in the middle like no processed burger ever could!

 

I got it with all the toppings minus relish. It was really fresh, it was on a big bun. For $5, it was a real steal. Such a good burger. I couldn't believe it. Oh and the bacon on the burger was really good!

I could see them bring out the wings from the fridge and then put them in to deep fry. I just got an order of 6 wings, and overall I was underwhelmed by the wings. When I saw them come out they looked really light in colour. Like really white?

It not only came with carrots and celery and dip (as wing should!), but they gave a ton of veggies! I had a choice of ranch or blue cheese, so of course I got blue cheese. But there was barely any sauce in the container.

The wings weren't bad, just nothing special. They weren't that big, but they were crispy.

They were sauced nicely, and the sauce reminded me of the sauce from Pho Hung, which I really dig. It's spicy and succulent, but this was a slightly less flavourful version. It wasn't spicy hot either, but it was good. And they were saucy!

Overall I had a good meal. I would totally have gone back if they were closer. I don't know why they went out of business, but it was a total shame. Great burger, ok wings. Thumbs up.

Joe's Wings + Burgers

2825 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON (Now Closed)

joeswingsburgers.com

Yea or Nay on Frozen Wings? + RedFlagDeals Best Retail Chicken Wings

 

I got to reading a thread on RedFlagDeals Food section where people were talking about Best Retail Chicken Wings. I didn't weigh in but agree with most that frozen wings aren't great, and it's often better to make your own. But that's not always possible. That's why I've been doing my #quarantinefrozenwingreviews (see link on the side bar) to weed out the good and the bad. 

Personally, those wings above, La Cage wings, did not look that appetizing, but the flavour ain't bad. What about you, what is your favourite frozen wing?

FARM REPORT #7 - Red Alert!

 

LOTW Meme Mondays = Axios Wing Interview

 

It is what it is, I guess.

Stupid is what it is.

#nonwingsunday = Crispy Tater Skins in Buffalo Popcorn Seasoning

 

View this post on Instagram

#nonwingsunday = Crispy Tater Skins in Buffalo Popcorn Seasoning These may not be pretty, but they are dang good! Took the leftover potato skin peelings from another meal, tossed them in some oil with s&p, 'fried' them on a bbq matt on the grill, then tossed them in Buffalo Popcorn Seasoning. Salty, savoury, crispy good snack! #lordofthewingsblog #lordofthewings #taterskins #potatoskinsnack #buffalopotatoskins #potatoskins #kernalspopcornseasoning #buffalopopcornseasoning #snack #itsnotallaboutwings

A post shared by LORD of the WINGS (@lotw_wingking) on Aug 9, 2020 at 4:34pm PD

Happy #fryday - Wings fresh from the Fryer!

 

Happy #fryday everyone!

Have a. Great & safe weekend; may it be as good as these crispy deep fried are!!!#lordofthewingsblog #lordofthewings #wings #chickenwings #crispywings #friedwings #tgif pic.twitter.com/mMbIDimrP3

— LORD of the WINGS (@LordoftheWings) August 7, 2020

BOWMAN's BAR & GRILL Ottawa ON 2014 - LOST REVIEW

It's time for another #tbt & #lostreview

It was early March of 2014 and I was in Ottawa visiting LJ. I don't remember the trip, and I vaguely remember this visit to Bowman's. This pub I think only opened in 2014.

It's located in an odd strip of Carling Ave, where there are almost no other businesses. All around the restaurant it's residential and across the street is a hospital. So they have no competition, but most of Carling I think of as commercial, so it's weird that this stretch for the most part is not.

Inside the pub everything was freshly renovated and looked clean and fresh, but still had classic looking charm.

It was a Friday night and the place was packed! It was a real mixed crowd; seniors, families, young families, office workers etc. 

Our waiter was the owner, Peter. Very friendly guy who was making sure everything was just right for everyone. He brought us our menus and drinks, and we tried to figure out what to get. It's pub food, but I would describe it as elevated pub food: prices are higher than a typical pub, but the food is also a few notches higher as well.

As an appetizer we ordered their "Dill"icious Pickle Chips and were confused when they weren't chips really but almost whole fried pickles. Not a problem they were different from the menu, but they were good. They had a thick, crunchy coating on them, that seemed like a homemade breading suggesting these were not from a frozen food supplier. It came with a nice Buttermilk Ranch dip and they even garnished it with dill weed which was a nice touch!

LJ went with the Hot Salami Mozza'wich and upgraded her side to the Tater Tot poutine. But it wasn't just any tater tot poutine, no this was a truffle oil and Parmesan poutine! I'm not wowed by Truffle Oil, but LJ loves it and I think these were her favourite part of the meal. 

When I saw the wings on the menu, I knew I had to try them, but choosing was difficult because while they had only a few flavours, they were unique and clearly homemade. I wanted to try them all!

I made a decision, and was excited when the wings came out. 

On the side of my plate was celery and carrot sticks and a container of more of the Buttermilk Ranch.
The wings looked glorious on the plate. Fried crispy, saucy, and they just had a feeling of something real and fresh. The menu doesn't specify how many wings are in an order. They don't say a pound, or even the numbered amount. They just say "Whole, Unsplit Wings". In my order there were 4 whole wings, or 8 if you were to split them up.

The size of these wings is hard to gauge from the photos because they were whole, but they seem like a very healthy medium to me. They also seem pretty crispy, but I couldn't tell you how tender they are 6 years later. Look at that orange-y homemade sauce though!

I went with the "Simple Simon's Complicated Hot Sauce". I can't remember for the life of me the flavour, the heat, any of it. It looks good though!

I also got a side of the Coffee Chipotle BBQ sauce. I wish I could tell you how this tasted, but again, 6 years later I don't remember.

So sadly that wraps up my Lost Review on Bowman's. The wings look good, and I haven't been back since. I don't think anything was bad at all, just never think to come here. 

Bowman's Bar & Grill

1170 Carling Ave, Ottawa ON

bowmansbarandgrill.ca

FARM REPORT #6 Green Green Green

View this post on Instagram

Farm Report #6 Lot's of rain mean these plants aren't wanting for thirst at all. Vibrant greens & we have more flower buds (which become the peppers)! Tied the plants to sticks to stabilize them last week. Things are looking good. Oh the fallen pepper is still around - guess the critters have learned their lessons. #lotwfarmreport #lordofthewingsblog #lordofthewings #srirachapeppers #cayennepeppers #futurehotsauce #lordofthewingshotsauce

A post shared by LORD of the WINGS (@lotw_wingking) on Aug 4, 2020 at 6:05pm PDT

LOTW Meme Monday = Where Spicy Wings Come From

Damn that's one scary chicken!!!

Artist: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAoPrx3K1Er/

#nonwingsunday = Buffalo Cauliflower luxe

#fryday Buffalo Wing Sauce & Toss

View this post on Instagram

Happy #fryday y'all! Check out my slow-mo sauce & toss on these home fried wings! Man #nationalchickenwingday was awesome. Hope your weekend is just as awesome. Stay safe, wing on! #lordofthewingsblog #lordofthewings #wings #chickenwings #srirachabuffalowings #buffalowings #lotwtestkitchen #tgif

A post shared by LORD of the WINGS (@lotw_wingking) on Jul 31, 2020 at 11:35am PDT