Perhaps the crispiest round of the Asheville Food Fights event series, the annual Asheville Wing War “heats up” at New Mountain Asheville on Sunday, March 1, at 4 p.m., according to event organizers. Now in its fourth season, the chicken-charring competition sees 14 chefs battle for the title of best traditional or spicy wing, with both a judge ruling and people’s choice award in each category.
At $20 per person ($25 day of show, $12 children under 18), tickets include unlimited wings, bottomless beer samples provided by Sierra Nevada and Pisgah Brewing and live entertainment by the Mike Rhodes Fellowship — a musical group comprised of a “revolving cast of Asheville’s best musicians,” according to New Mountain.
So far, confirmed warriors include Mojo Taco Lounge, Luella’s Bar-B-Que, Haywood Lounge, the Social, Foggy Mountain Brewpub, Scully’s Bar and Grill, King James Public House, Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Creekside Taphouse and the Barleycorn. A few additional competitor slots remain, and three of the listed participants — Barleycorn, Moe’s and Creekside — are in the game to defend a title.
2014 winners were as follows:
Judge’s Best Traditional Wing: Barleycorn
Judges’s Best Specialty Wing: Creekside Taphouse
People’s Choice Best Traditional: Moe’s Original BBQ and
People’s Choice Best Specialty: Charlotte Street Pub
A portion of proceeds from the event, orchestrated by Lush Life Productions, will benefit MANNA FoodBank — a hunger-fighting organization serving Western North Carolina since 1983. Lush Life is expecting its greatest attendance number yet at this year’s production.
For more information or to purchase tickets starting at noon on Thursday, Jan. 15, visit ashevillewingwar.com.
Wings are for flying, not frying.
“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men.” Alice Walker
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