On such an ordinary, nondescript out-of-the-way, deprived-of-any-action street on the periphery of the city of Buffalo within the state of New York sits the origin of the worldwide food sensation, much loved by generations: the iconic Buffalo Wing.
We were en route back to the hinterland forested hamlet of Russell where the does and stags roam, from our perennial Niagara Falls visit, where each overnight stay through the year seems to be more memorable than the previous ones. We surprisingly took a sudden unscheduled detour on the behest of my nephew Eduard Loop. He assuredly declared “We have to make this pitstop. I assure you all will love it.”
Despite our initial complains with moans and grumbles, we were taken aback once we stepped out from our respective vehicles on a caravan. Before us stood the 1935-established Frank and Teressa’s Anchor Bar “Home of the Original Buffalo Chicken Wings” — the very location where this memorable dish was born.
Having never eaten Buffalo Wings before, I was personally more-than-just curious to finally try it out — and what better way to finally sample it than right here, in this hallowed ground?
Upon stepping in, we immediately noticed informative slogans which were an instant walk back in time on the historical narrative of this culinary discovery.
For context, back then, chicken wings were considered undesirable, only being relegated for stock or soup — or worse, thrown away. However in 1964, the fate of the humble not-so-much-desired part of the chicken anatomy was substantially reforged. Forever be grateful to Anchor Bar owner Teressa Bellissimo, who transformed the once-upon-a-time leftover fried wings bathed in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son Dominic who always brought over some friends.
It was an overnight hit!
The following day, it was immediately listed on their menu, served together with the acquired taste bleu cheese dip and crisp celery sticks.
Nearby residents patronized the newest offering to popular acclaim. The Buffalo Wing craze soon took over North America, as even fast food giants began incorporating their own versions of Buffalo wings in their own menus. Today, this marvel has spread worldwide, as we even have Buffalo chicken wings available at various restaurants domestically.
However, faithful and die-hard patrons genuinely believe the proclaimed and coveted “Best Wing in the World” title still belongs to the original well-guarded secret “tangy, spicy, yet buttery” recipe of Anchor Bar.
The rustic all-tables-taken-no-seat-empty mom-and-pop restaurant, now filled with true-blue regulars and excited tourists, retains its homely feel, with truly authentic American decors such as motoring club cloth patches, VIP photographs, hard-earned trophies, license plates, police badges, football magazine clippings, black and white comic book pages, and even some sheets of Playboy Magazine.
By the entrance of the well-stocked souvenir shop full of mementos and slices of memories, we spotted a statue of a quintessential vintage waitress with a flag of what is called the Buffalo Wing Trail, termed as “America’s tastiest drive,” a campaign to savor various versions of the now-favorite cult classic.
But finally, the main reason for our stopover — the Anchor Bar offers traditional and boneless wings in various flavors and quantities. Some sauces are honey garlic, honey bourbon barbeque, chipotle barbeque, spicy garlic parmesan, and even extreme heat for the most adventurous. Dry rub versions of habanero ranch, classic buffalo and Cajun likewise exist.
Other offers include appetizers such as mozzarella stix, potato skins and stuffed hot peppers. Meanwhile, entrees consist of cheese ravioli, grilled tenders, fish fry, spaghetti and meatballs, and even a variety of pizzas! Suffice to say, there was a dish that screamed “Order me!” to every single diner. And order we did!
Having finally sampled the most famous wing in the world, I can definitely attest: it deserves all the accolades it has gotten. In fact, in 1977, the city of Buffalo even proclaimed 29 July as Chicken Wing Day, and celebrated the Anchor Bar co-owners.
What caught my eye was the saying on the wall that went “Hot wings, cold drinks, and good company — the recipe for a perfect night.”
Cheers to the Anchor Bar, the creator of the original Buffalo Wing!