The thing about wings

With all the non-stop chatter about American politics and the world economic melt down, I think some lighter, spicier fare is in order.

Buffalo Wings.

It's important to note, in Buffalo no one calls them "Buffalo Wings." Here, they're simply known as 'wings.' I suppose it's like going to Chicago and asking for a "Chicago Hot Dog" or to Philadelphia and ordering a "Philadelphia Cheese Steak." You just don't do it.

As the birthplace of the chicken wing, Buffalo has a slew of restaurants claiming to have the best wings in the city.

To be honest, I really never liked chicken wings prior to moving to Buffalo. Once you move here, however, you embrace drinking Canadian beer and watching hockey and then wings just come with the territory.

Without further ado, an amateur's guide to Buffalo's chicken wings.

The Anchor Bar: With their tell-tale state license plates lining the wall, this is supposedly where it all started. Tourists to Niagara Falls list it on their must-sees right after The Maid of The Mist. It's a little pricey compared to other wing dives, but it is "the original." I liked these wings, but popular Buffalonian opinion indicates it's not the favorite. I went for the medium and it was fairly mild. They won't let you mix and match your flavors for free, so expect to pay if you want to sample the various 'heats.'

Duff's: It actually burns when you walk through the door. The first breath in and you're already feeling the burn. Staffed with dozens of cute UB undergrads, this place gets points for character. In full disclosure, it's more of a dive than The Anchor Bar, but I suppose most people consuming food entirely with their hands aren't too picky, right?

Their claim to fame is "our medium is hot..." This is a slogan that should be taken more as a warning than with a grain of salt. After The Anchor Bar, I mistakenly ignored this fact and went for the medium. I regretted it not only during the meal, but the next day too. Duff's is nice because they offer package deals with a pitcher of pop or beer and french fries. They also allow you to choose how many of each flavor of wings you want. Want to try a suicidal, 5 mediums and 4 milds? No extra charge. Nice.

Gabriel's Gate: Buffalo Spree (see previous post) named Gabriel's Gate the best place for wings so we had to try them. Their medium was a comfortable medium and the prices are reasonable. They charge a few bucks if you want to customize your order. I can't say they were my favorite, that honor goes to Duff's, but the taxonomy decor, crazy late hours and authentic Buffalo feel makes Gabriel's Gate a close runner-up.