LIFF 2011 Wing Vendors (and after judging wingery)

After judging I decided to go chat with the vendors. I had some good wings and wanted to thank them for the wings.

First up I went to Sali's. I told them I had been one of the judges and while they didn't win, they produced some fine chicken wings. I asked if Sali's was a restaurant or a just the traveling vendor, and was informed they used to be an establishment but were now doing the trailer thing. 

I stopped by Ring-A-Wing, who won last year's Ribfest wing competition. They were not happy about losing and didn't understand how they lost. I said that the voting was very close and that they had an excellent product. I wish Ring-A-Wing was in T.O. for sure.

The winner of WingFest 2011 was Hank Daddy's BBQ from Maple Ontario. Owner Frank Caputo came up to me at the judges table and said something to the effect of  "I hear you like your wings hot . . . come see me later because I have something special". Sounds good to me!

I came over to talk to him and he told me about his wings, and that while he couldn't do heat competitions at this festival, he normally has a "Fire Wing Challenge" where a challenger eats 15 wings in 15 minutes with no drinks or wipes, and if they survive, get a picture, t-shirt, name on wall of flame and bragging rights. Frank told me he didn't have his waivre or anything here with him, but if I wanted to try a few of the wings, he'd whip up a batch. Not one to say no to free wings or a heat challenge, I was honoured and excited.

The wings came out and looked fantastic. I immediately recognized them from the competition, but it was clear that these wings were much hotter. I asked how he made his unique wings, and he told me they were rubbed and then smoked for several hours. Then they are tossed in the deep fryer and then sauced. This was a great idea because while I like the flavour of smoked wings, they are always soft and the texture is not my fave. But this method allows for levels of flavour and a crispy skin. Brilliant.

Immediately I could smell the heat in the wings. I'm pretty sure some level of spice extract is used. I was given some gloves to wear, which I normally wouldn't bother with, but considering I was eating these standing up with only port-a-washes nearby, I figured I should. I also got nervous about eating something super hot out like I was, but I dove in.

These wings were awesome. First off, they had a good burn. I mean these were a level above suicide for sure. My stomach grumbled from the heat, and my lips were on fire. But despite that there was still so much flavour. The smokey wings, the sweet but savoury sauce. Saucy, crispy - these wings had so much going for them. 

The wings were great, and in the future if I get the chance I am totally doing the Fire Wing Challenge. A great product and I really think this is how smoked wings should be done.

Trip to LIFF 2011 -- LIFF 2011 -- LIFF 2011 WingFest  

London International Food Festival 2011

Started in 2008, the London International Food Festival has grown bigger and bigger each year. This year the festival was testing out having a chicken wing competition and asked me to come to town. How could I resist?

Hosted in Victoria Park in London Ontario, this festival focuses on food from all over the world.  It's over now, but it did take place from June 24-26.

I explored the festival on the Sunday taking in all the people walking around. There were young and old, families and singles, teens and 30 somethings. Lots of people had food in their hands or trinkets from the non-food vendors.

There were several stages with different cultural performances and concerts to entertain people all over.

It was busy in the park, but not as crowded as it gets at Ribfest, which meant you had room to walk around.

There was a midway there too (mostly for kids). There were also activities like free mini putt or the "Walk on Water" which was a cool pool where you get into a bubble, get zipped in, and then roll around the pool like a hamster in a ball. I didn't try it, but I wish I had one. Oh I wish I had a pool too.

I was super impressed with the variety of food to try and related vendors. Lets take a look: Make your own beer, the Super Slicer, cookie desserts, mini-donuts, Cake by the Slice, Nachos and Corn Dogs, Fudge, Fresh cut fries. Ok so the first batch was a lot of carney food. Let's keep looking.

Vietnamese, fajitas, kettle corn, Greek, Chinese, waffles, more Vietnamese, hot sauces, sausages.

Slushies, churros, lemonade smoothies, popcorn chicken, more waffles, wood oven pizza, burgers, tacos . . .

Caribbean, Indian, Korean, ribs, Nicaraguan, crepes . . . and a lot more. I got tired of taking photos after a while!

As you walk along the park all you see is the above: ice cream, grilled corn, pulled pork on a plate, and people just eating in general. The smells fill the park and I think anyone can find something tasty to eat. Listening to people around me, the hardest part was choosing where to go. 

So next summer if you want to travel the world without having to get a plane ticket, drop into London next summer and dig in.

London International Food Festival

Victoria Park, London, Ontario.

canadasbiggestparty.com

Trip to LIFF 2011 -- LIFF 2011 WingFest -- LIFF 2011 WingFest Vendors

VIA Rail to the Festival

So not only did the folks at Family Shows Canada ask me to be a judge at the wing competition at the London International Food Festival, they also sprung for me to go to London. And I got to go first class, which was a first for me.

My journey started at Union Station in Toronto. I immediately felt privileged and important walking past the long line of people who had been waiting a long time - some standing, some sitting on the floor - and entered the Panorama Lounge. There I was offered complimentary drinks, newspaper, internet access etc. After taking it easy for a bit, we were allowed to pre-board the train before everyone else. I was feeling fancy.

First class (or business class) was pretty nice with it's big comfy seats, curtains on the window, and lots of space (in the isle, the seats, the luggage storage). I had no one sitting beside me the whole way. Before we pulled out of the station the attendants had already been around asking what I wanted to drink. I passed on the booze and just had a cup of cola.

I pulled out my laptop and logged on to the Internet. I was watching a movie, working on the blog, chatting on  Twitter and staring out the window at the beautiful scenery.

With my drink came some snacks. They offered pretzels or a kind of trail mix. I could have had both, but I just went with the mini pretzels.

A little while later the super friendly attendants brought my menu for supper:

Appetizer
California and smoked salmon
sushi rolls served with pickled ginger.
 
 
Penne Caprese
served with rosé sauce and a roasted
Calabrese vegetable blend.
 
or
 
Roasted Salmon with Honey and Coriander
served with red pepper and corn relish, brown rice
with scallions and a romanesco vegetable blend.
 
or
 
Beef Carbonnade
served with rotini pasta, peas and carrots.    All meals are served with a selection of bread. 

Dessert
Praline Cake

I skipped on the appetizer (not a huge fan of sushi). They brought out a steaming hot towel that smelled like lemon (very refreshing). I ate my bun pretty quick (fairly fresh). They offered me wine (red or white) but I stuck to water. I love the little water glass.

For dinner I chose the penne. I expected something terrible, but it wasn't bad. It was very cheesy and was not completely void of flavour. If only they served wings . . .

The desert was Praline cake. This was delightful. And then more offers for beverages. By the time I was getting off the train, they were offering these little chocolate cups that I missed, but looked really good.

I have to say, this was the first time I have taken long distance public transit (normal train, bus etc) that I didn't want to get off. I was so comfortable, the staff treated me royally and it will make it very hard to go back to any other way of transportation. 

Thanks Cecil Hillier for the tickets!  

Today is the Wing Judging @ London Int'l Food Festival

Don't forget to come out - the judging is at 3pm today - Victoria Park in London! I'm excited . . . aren't you?!

Big Smoke Burger ~ Toronto ON

I've got a funny story for you.

So my good buddy Ricky was in town last Sunday, and we had time to grab some lunch after going to M.E.C.  He had seen online a burger joint across the street and that sounded good to me. So we go. Only it was closed on Sundays. Really? Closed on a Sunday? What is this, 1955? So we wander around for a little bit trying to find somewhere else. I had two other burger places I knew were close by, but not sure of the address. 

While walking we passed the Telus EcoCab station where everyone in droves (including ourselves) were avoiding free rides, free sun glasses, free lemonade etc. It's funny how there is a distrust of companies giving out free things sometimes. We asked if they knew where the burger places were; they didn't, but they pointed us to free internet terminals. After getting the addresses, we started walking to our locations. The EcoCab people were like, 'c'mon take a free ride' and we decided, why not? 

I don't remember our futuristic-rickshaw drivers name, but she was very friendly and answered lots of questions about the service. It was fun, but a very slow ride. She brought us to our next burger local. Closed. Another burger place closed on Sundays, what the hell? So we asked to go to our 3rd location, but she was bound to the East side of Spadina. We took to walking, where we finally arrived at Big Smoke Burger. Thanks for being open BSB.

For those who might be familiar with the burger explosion that occured in Toronto back in like 2008-2009, one of the big contenders was Craft Burger. Well, due to some trademarking issues, they are now Big Smoke Burger. As they say, "We haven't changed our menu or our people," and  "New Name, Same Craft."

A few months ago I tried Craft Burger at their East end location. Ricky and I were trying the West end local. It's small, cramped, but has charm. There are only 4 tables, and a few stools and several others eating burgers. The decore is faux industrial with warm dark wood paneling and light wood tables.

There isn't a lot of choice on the menu in terms of the burgers, which means they keep it simple and do those options well. The burgers are Ontario beef, made fresh daily, and are charbroiled. The one thing I find interesting is that there are no bacon options on the menu. Rick and I both ordered the same burgers with the same options.

Above is a Crazy Burger in a combo with onion rings and can of pop for $11.81. Not a cheap lunch, but that was a good size metal platter of food.

I've heard that they have a good poutine, but I was in an onion ring mood. As a side there were about 8 large onion rings. Thick and big O rings.

The onion rings are breaded in panko, which makes them super crunchy but still light. The best part was the side of the chipotle mayo which had a nice zip to it.

I debated between the Spicy Burger (caramelized onions, spicy chipotle mayo, tomato and lettuce) which sounded good, but the Crazy Burger won out.

The Crazy comes with all the above toppings (hot peppers were located under the burger in the BBQ sauce). For me several flavours jumped out beyond the burger itself: the creamy and crisp coleslaw, the spicy chipotle mayo, the bite of the Havarti cheese, and the sweet smokey BBQ sauce. Each taste stood out but didn't overwhelm.

This was a good burger. The patty itself was fairly simple. Not too thick, not overly seasoned. Fresh bun, fresh toppings. The onion rings were great and the dip was perfect for the rings. And they were open on a Sunday. Big Smoke Burger saved the day, and Rick and I both left full and satisfied.

Big Smoke Burger
573 King Street West (and other locations)
bigsmokeburger.com

I'm Judging at the London International Food Festival this weekend!

I'm super excited because this weekend the great folks at Family Shows Canada (the people who run the London Ribfest) are throwing the annual International Food Festival. What is doubly exciting for me is that they are bringing me to the Forrest City to judge a chicken wing competition!

I've never been to the International Food Festival, so I don't know what to fully expect, but I'm thinking it will be similar to Ribfest with more international foods. Here is a video from last years festival:

The London Community News did a recent article on the event, as well as the environmental commitment the festival has worked toward.

Below is the guide to the festival. Lots of music, activities etc.

So come on out and keep a look out for me! I'll be the one with a wing in one hand.

http://canadasbiggestparty.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125546435223

UPFRONT BAR & GRILL ~ Toronto ON

RIP - UPFRONT BAR is now CLOSED

Do remember what movie this is from the photo below? With Ben Afflek and Minnie Driver? Recognize the scene? It's Good Will Hunting from 1997 in case you forgot. And you're probably thinking, what does Good Will Hunting have to do with chicken wings? Well nothing that I can remember.

Photo from waymaking.com

Much of Good Will Hunting was filmed at my alma mater the University of Toronto. It filmed in other parts of Toronto too. It filmed the above bar scene in the Upfront Bar & Grill which is also in Toronto. And on the weekend I ate chicken wings at Upfront. You see the connection now?

I was down in the St Lawrence Market area on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I was hungry but couldn't find a seat anywhere until I came around a corner and saw Upfront. I couldn't believe it, a whole patio on a gorgeous day nearly empty. I stepped inside to let the staff know I was on the patio, and unfortunately I interrupted my waitress's (don't know her name) lunch.

She was very friendly, brought me refills on pop, and was interested in the wings (she hadn't tried them and wanted to know what I thought). I sat listening to classic rock on the radio, doing a little writing, watching people walk by and enjoying just sitting on a patio. Shortly my wings came and my lunch began.

My wing bone plate came out - and it was a paper plate, which was a little weird and not so enviro friendly. I guess neither are paper napkins and wetnaps, but I expect those.

My plate of wings came and they looked tasty. Wings come out by the pound, which is about 9 wings.

Veggies and dip came out next. I hate to have to thank Upfront for this, because this is what should be the standard, but they are becoming a dying breed to include carrots, celery and blue cheese dip.

The chicken wings themselves were a medium to medium-large sized wing. They were averaged sized in terms of meatiness. The skin was crispy with the wings being deep fried naked (ie no dusting or breading) and then tossed in sauce.

The wings were nice and saucy, which means each wing had some sauce on them, but then there was a little lake at the bottom for extra dipping. I went with classic hot sauce, and their version of suicide on the side.

HOT

The hot wings were basically Buffalo wings - deep fried wings tossed in a cayenne based hot sauce.

Nothing original, but tasty. While hot wasn't really that hot, it had enough of a tingle especially if I had a lot of sauce and several wings quickly.

Tongue Burner

Upfront's version of suicide sauce is called Tongue Burner. While this sauce wasn't a killer in terms of heat, it did have a nice burn. It was a level burn that was peppery, and did give a good level of heart burn.

FINAL SCORE:  Upfront is a good dive bar with good pub wings. Crispy, saucy and tasty. Service was great, I got free refills on pop, and got to sit on a patio that deserved more people on it, but I enjoyed having it almost to myself. It may have been a while since Ben and Matt have been around, but I'm sure they'd like the wings too. 6.5/10

Matt, Ben and Me hanging out. Good Wings Hunted.

Upfront Bar & Grill
106 Front Street East, Toronto ON
Upfront on Facebook