BLOGIVERSARY YEAR 6: The BEST & WORST of 2011

Looking back, 2011 was a blur. Life outside the Wing Nation was very busy and while it was a good year, I was not happy with how much the blog was neglected. Very few wing reviews, no wing recipes, WKTV didn't get an episode and the list goes on. Actually there are recipes and such, but they still haven't been posted. There's a backlog on everything!

But there were some exciting wing moments too. I only hope 2012 will be the year we get back on track. With a new look and the enthusiasm to eat more wings, things can only get better!

BEST TORONTO WINGS
BEST OTTAWA WINGS

BEST ONTARIO WINGS

BEST INTERNATIONAL WINGS

WORST WINGS

BEST NON WING PLACE
BEST WING RELATED BUT NON-WING RECIPE by WK
HIGHLIGHTS

 GOALS

BEST WINGS TORONTO REVIEWED IN 2011

#1 The Tara Inn - "Jumbo crispy wings in tasty sauces" - exactly.

#2 The Bishop & The Belcher - "Big, crispy wings" and the sauce, while light, was good.

#3 Puck'n Wings - "They were a good size, meaty, crispy and had sauce to spare" - loved the dill wings.

#4 Hoops - "Good size, crispy, saucy wings" - notice a theme in these places? Love the wing specials.

#5 Mullin's - "Simple wings done right. Big, crispy, tasty."

BEST WINGS OTTAWA REVIEWED IN 2011

#1  Jean Albert's - "Wings are crispy, flavourful and fresh" - good even before you put on sauce.

#2   MVP Lounge -  Big, breaded crispy wings with good sauces.                                         

#3 Atomic Rooster - Big and crispy, but simple. Great service.
#4 Crazy Horse - Technically Kanata, the wings were tender, crispy and the homemade sauces were good.
#5 Tadavalkars -    "Decent size, good flavours"

BEST WINGS ONTARIO REVIEWED IN 2011

#1 -The Bull & Boar Smokehouse Grill - Smoked, then deep fried, then sauced. It was good, except cold.

BEST WINGS REVIEWED INTERNATIONAL IN 2011

#1 The Wing Wagon - I've been twice now and love these traditional Buffalo wings. Jumbo, crispy, saucy. 

WORST WINGS REVIEWED IN 2011

#1 Planet Pizza, Toronto ON - Lied about the style (say they are BBQ but they are not), small, not crispy. Just sad. I write the worst not to be mean, but to show others and for the business to possibly learn from this wing mistake.

BEST NON-WING REVIEWED IN 2011

#1  Jack Astor's  Buffalo Sauced Up Chicken Fingers - Crispy, saucy, spicy, savoury - add garlic pan bread and Cherry Coke and no wonder they got first place.

#2 Smokehouse Blues Pig Wings -  When you take a pork shank, smoke it, then deep fry and toss in sauce, you then have a piece of pork that tastes like chicken wings. And we can always have more things taste like wings.
#3 Ombrella Pizza Cones -  Pizza, in a cone? Awesome.

BEST WING RELATED BUT NON-WING RECIPE by WING KING 2011

#1 Late Night Wing Bites - so simple, so tasty. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011

Lots of exciting events took place this year that kept me busy and full. I,

Was interviewed by CKCU Radio

Was a panel member of a Podcast

Was a Judge at London's Wingfest and Ribfest and Chestnut Residence Battle of the Wings

Was winner of my friends Backyard BBQ Rib Competition

Successfully completed the Rim Reaper Challenge @ McKibbins Irish Pub and went on the Wall of Pain. 

A few other facts and accoomplishments - readership of the blog increased quite a bit, especially due to all of the new people I've met on Twitter, in person and people linking to the blog. By far the biggest and most popular post was my coverage of Boston Pizza's new advertising guy, Wing Critic Carl - over 11 000 page hits because people want to know what a Gil Morgan is or who Leroy Bouchlette is. I want to add more World Wide Web Wacky Wing Wednesdays, but the fact that we have already reached 50 is awesome. We also added Wing P0rn as a regular update - this is where I add photos of wings at places I'm eating that I've already reviewed but don't need to rehash or wings I've made at home that don't need a recipe. 

GOALS FOR 2012

My wing goals for 2012 are simple. More posts, done in a timely manner. More social media (Twitter, Facebook, WKTV - I'm looking at you). I would like to get out and try wings outside my Toronto/Ottawa circle. I also want to hear more from you - and your wing adventure. 

I want to thank all my readers, those of you coming to my blog (Chris and Teena especially - always supportive and leaving comments), those that write in to me, and just anyone who's out there in the Wing Nation. I write my blog for me, but it's so cool to hear from fellow wing lovers out there.

Wing Long and Prosper,

The Wing King

Lord of the Wings

"Eating Wings Until the End of the World"

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Best & Worst of 2006

Best & Worst of 2007

Best & Worst of 2008

Best & Worst of 2009

Best & Worst of 2010

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