The Best Chicken Wings (and Chili!) In The U.S.
Are you ready to consume 2,000 + calories Super Bowl Sunday?
It’s easy to lose count of how many chicken wings, sliders, potato chips, scoops of guacamole and squares of cheese you can eat when glued to the TV set. Heather Mangieri, a sports nutritionist and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told USA Today that Americans are more likely to hit the 4,000-calorie mark when you account for pizza slices and chili. Super Bowl Sunday has become America’s second “biggest eating day” after Thanksgiving.
The National Chicken Council says Americans will devour 1.25 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl XLVIII when the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. That’s equal to putting 572 wings on every seat in all 32 NFL stadiums, according to the Council. More than 110 million people are expected to watch Sunday’s championship game.
A few weeks ago cheese lovers became panicked over a “Velveeta shortage” – a report that Kraft, maker of Velveeta, has confirmed. Last year a shortage of wings dubbed “the Great Wing Shortage” forced many Super Bowl party hosts to devise a back-up snack plan. National Chicken Wing Council chief economist Bill Roenigk says the poultry industry has been busy producing more chickens to prevent poultry panic.
“Four percent more chicken will be produced this compared to last,” he notes. “The ‘Great Wings Shortage’ is officially over. Sports fans can enjoy this affordable luxury even more this year.”
Related: Hot sauce, hot stock: Can Buffalo Wild Wings stay on fire?
Alex Vallis, digital features editor at Food & Wine, says Americans spend an average of $50 million stocking up for their Super Bowl parties. Surprisingly neither wings nor chili are the No. 1 snack at parties (watch the video to find out what is!)
Chicken wings are also undergoing a transformation: they have shed their sports party image as more nationally recognized chefs and top-ranked restaurants adapt them to changing consumer tastes. For example, the wings at Pok Pok, Andy Ricker’s award-winning eateries in New York and Portland, are Asian-influenced: tangy, crispy, and spicy. Alla Spina chef and owner Marc Vetri gave his wings an Italian twist: they’re deep fried and served in a delicious butter, Parmesan, lemon and oregano sauce. Food & Winecompiled a list of the best wings in the entire nation but when pressured to pick just five, Vallis says the best are:
1. Pok Pok, Portland, OR and New York
2. 17th Street BBQ, Murphysboro, IL and Las Vegas
3. Anchor Bar, Buffalo, New York
4. Alla Spina, Philadelphia
5. Wing Stop (various locations throughout the U.S.)
And let’s not forget another Super Bowl fan favorite: chili. It can be poured over chips, fries or enjoyed simply with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. Whether you like it with beef, pulled pork, or vegetarian-friendly black beans, chili has become the perfect accompaniment to any Super Bowl party. The best chili chains in the U.S. according to Vallis are:
1. 24 Diner, Austin
2. Rocky Mountain Chili Bowl, Denver
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