What is the size of two chubby fingers, varies in spiciness and is often eaten during the Superbowl? Chicken wings.
Love them or hate them, there is no denying that they are a staple food in the life of many - the comfort food that surpasses Mac 'n' Cheese. Whether you like them nose trickling hot, or you prefer them coated in sugary goodness, most pubs and restaurants will have something that suits your palate. While they vary in taste, they also vary in texture, quality, juiciness, flavour intensity and general degree of love.
Although I'm not notorious for being a chicken wing lover, opting for a juicy burger or onion rings as my pub food of choice, I'm forever keen on a challenge, especially when it involves unusual adaptations of a usual food item. Enter, Vancouver Foodster's Chicken Wing Challenge. When Richard asked me to join him on a media tour to taste a few of them out, I jumped at the opportunity, not knowing what was in store.
Our first stop of the day was at Malone's Bar and Grill, followed by Rogue Kitchen & Wet Bar and Calabash Bistro. Thank goodness we were walking, because it enabled us to gobble up more chicken wings and indulge in a healthy dose of cocktails and beer.
MALONE'S BAR & GRILL @MalonesDrinkery
608 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Salted Caramel Waffle Wings with Zing ($11)
Chicken and waffles are all the rage these days, sprouting up at every other restaurant; so why not make chicken wings out of the artery clogging meal? Chef Rennie Chotalal of Malone's decided to give it a try by taking buttermilk waffle battered chicken wings and tossing them in a spicy salted caramel sauce.
I loved these because they satisfied my sweet tooth and my salty tooth, while also throwing a little heat in to the picture. They were crunchy, uber flavorful and when eaten with a piece of waffle and a piece of caramel they tasted better than any chicken and waffles that I've had in town.
Huge points for creativity and presentation. Points deducted for pairing it with a grilled lemonade gin cocktail as I think it would've worked better with a beer. That said, the fact that it was free poured was pretty fantastic.
Would I order it again? Yes ma'am.
Paired with: Grilled Lemonade Gin Cocktail
Created by: Chef Rennie Chotalal @Chef_Rennie
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ROGUE KITCHEN & WET BAR @roguewetbar
601 West Cordova Street, Vancouver
Kimchi Chicken Wings ($12.99)