National Wing Day
July 29, Tuesday
History of the holiday
It is believed that National Wing Day was officially established in 1977 in the city of Buffalo, New York — the birthplace of the famous spicy "Buffalo Wings." The city administration proclaimed July 29 as a day to honor this dish. The holiday became especially popular thanks to the rise of sports bars, pubs, and fast-food restaurants where wings became a signature menu item.
Origin of the dish
The history of "buffalo" wings began in 1964 when Teresa Bellissimo, co-owner of Anchor Bar in Buffalo, accidentally prepared fried chicken wings covered with a hot sauce made from cayenne pepper, butter, and spices. The dish instantly became a hit and later spread throughout America and beyond.
How it is celebrated
On this day, restaurants and bars across the country hold special offers, including:
* discounts or free wings with the purchase of other dishes,
* wing-eating contests for speed,
* tastings of sauces with different levels of spiciness,
* cooking shows and workshops on preparing wings.
Food lovers also cook wings at home, trying various recipes: from traditional spicy to sweet, smoked, honey-mustard, and Asian variants.
Interesting facts
* Over 1.3 billion chicken wings are consumed annually in the USA during the Super Bowl alone.
* The National Chicken Council publishes annual reports on the popularity of the dish.
* There is a whole festival in Buffalo dedicated to wings — the National Buffalo Wing Festival.