There was a time where chicken wings and sports bars went hand in hand, but it appears that time is drawing to a close... at least, for the foreseeable future.
Restaurants and bars all across the nation are putting an end to their wicked wing deals – like 25 cents per wing, or $4 for all you can eat – because the cost of those little meaty treats is going through the roof.
While they were once the scourge of the chicken world, losing out favor to the popular boneless skinless breast, they're now selling at a premium – and restaurants don't want to pay the steep price.
What's the difference in price? The average price of wings has been $1.48 per pound, compared to $1.21 per pound. Compare that to this time last year, when wings were a scant 94 cents per pound.
So now, restaurants are forcing themselves to be creative in filling the wing void. Their solution? Something they're calling "boneless wings."
Basically, restaurants are now taking wing-sized pieces of chicken and dousing them in wing sauce, and referring to them as boneless wings. Thankfully, a number of restaurants following the boneless wing lead - 'cause let's face it, part of what makes eating wings so great is being able to stare at the pile of bones after you've eaten your weight in them.
With the cost of wings reportedly expected to continue to rise until at least the Superbowl, may we make some wing substitute recommendations? How about onion rings? Still deep fried and finger foody, adding a zesty dipping sauce would make for a decent substitution. Or if you really need the meat and bone thing, perhaps ribs will do the trick. - especially short ribs. Clam strips or popcorn shrimp have possibilities, and what about mozza sticks?
Yeah, you're right - all pale in comparison to the mighty wing. Here's hoping costs decrease soon so we can go back to all-you-can-eat madness.
