Time Out! It's Wingfest!
Last Sunday, I was invited to attend Time Out Chicago's Wingfest. The event was held at Deuces + The Diamond Club in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood. I am admittedly not a frequent visitor to Wrigleyville given my upbringing in St. Louis and dismay for displays of drunkeness by Cubs fans. But...the things we do for chicken wings...
I mean...I'm not that hungry...but...
This event was held at the end of a heavily booked weekend in Milwaukee, so after a proper introduction to that city of sausage, cheese, and beer, my energy and will to gorge myself with wings were minimal. Begrudgingly, my friend and I headed to the bar to continue our weekend of overindulging in food and drink.
I guess we're doing this!
For the price of admission, you get a punch card for two wings from each of eight local restaurants, as well as two beers from BuckleDown Brewing from your choice of an IPA, a double IPA, and a Pilsner, as well as two shots of Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey. The local eateries included:
and host
Deuce's offered up a sweet wing option
Buffalo Wings and Rings serving it up!
Having recently gone to another wing fest, I can't help but compare the two events. The Timeout Chicago Wingfest was much more contained...in a good way. Chicago Wing Fest was a convention! Personally, I was overwhelmed being around so many people and so many wing options in such a massive arena...literally, an arena. Chicago Wing Fest was also frustrating at times due to the lack of table space to set up shop, and go to town on some chicken wings. By contrast, Deuce's outdoor patio with larger communal tables provided the perfect space to sit down with people you don't know and strike up a conversation! My friend and I ended up talking to our wing-noshing table mates for hours!
Our table mates, Mike and Brooke!
Another reason I preferred Timeout Chicago's event is that the amount of wings you could try were limited. I know, that may seem like a drawback for some, but for weight loss surgery patient like myself, 16 wings is still way more than enough wings. Timeout Chicago's event was more of a sampling event. No winners were announced for best wings categories. But, when people are eating wings, we're all winners, right? Also, Deuce's provided some amazing Parmesan potato chips and pickle palate cleansers at the event. You can never go wrong with chips and pickles!
Moments before Chef Tony Balestreri of KIMSKI "Sesame Bae"d the wings!
By contrast, I did enjoy the loud music and the wing eating contest at Chicago Wing Fest. The Top 40 pop-sweetness of the music and seeing people participate in eating contests were both nauseatingly exciting, yet unforgettably exhilarating...and that's just about how I like to live my life! So, next year, Time Out Chicago, keep the wings, keep the fun, bar atmosphere, but pump up the jams (inside and outside) and throw in some games/contests!
It's getting saucy in here!
