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Chicago Wingfest 2010 Highlights!

Marcus Leshock on 03.01.10 at 9:49 AM | 1 comment |

Marcus Leshock

WGN-TV Feature Reporter specializing in all things entertainment, pop culture, and delicious.

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It was a packed Bailey Auditorium in the West Loop yesterday, where hundreds of food fans stuffed their stomachs full of chicken wings.

WingFest 2010 brought together 20 of the city's best Wingmakers to raise some money for charity, and compete for the title of "Best of Fest."

I was there for a few hours with WGN-TV. We tried to sample as many wings as possible, but we found that two hours into the fest, some providers had run out of wings! We spent most of our time interacting with the colorful characters milling about (I say colorful because most of them were covered in sauce). Watch my complete report on tonight's WGN Evening News at 5pm!

The photo gallery below features some of the competitors, many of the crazy patrons, and the BEST OF FEST! The COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS is after the jump!

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...oh the insanity. To quote the late, great Roy Scheider - "You're gonna need a bigger boat."
A Beer Hat that requires balance. They assured me that all of the beer was purchased in the building.
One slot for new wings. One slot for bare bones. And the rest for beer.
909 East Ogden Avenue, Naperville
909 East Ogden Avenue, Naperville
...while waiting in line. For more wings.
....when more sauce is coming anyways?
Why's he called the Sauce King? He wears it on his shirt. Literally.
Napkins? We don't need no stinking napkins!
What's not to love?
3434 South Halsted Street, Chicago
431 North Wells Street, Chicago
1801 Belvidere Road, Waukegan
1801 Belvidere Road, Waukegan. I loved this wings - lots of garlic and plenty of spice. Nice flavor.
1938 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago
816 Grand Ave, Ingleside
1925 West Cortland Street, Chicago. Burboun Wings, interesting take.
551 N. Ogden Ave., Chicago
The secret recipe!
Karen Lim (owner) and the family behind Take Me Out's Little Hotties, some of my favorite wings in Chicago. Karen's father owns Great Seas, where the lollipop style chicken wings were born.
The wings are cut and the meat is pushed to one end of the bone. But the star is the asian sauce, smothered with green onion.
Why do I turn into Wolverine when I eat? I look so angry.
41 East Superior Street, Chicago
Most likely the hottest wings in Chicago. I tried to eat these once and almost died. They are ridiculous!
Another shot of the XXX
This face pretty much sums it up, although this gentleman was more of a man than I'll ever be.

WingFest 2010...

...oh the insanity. To quote the late, great Roy Scheider - "You're gonna need a bigger boat."

Here are the winners of WingFest 2010....

Best of Fest:
Jake Melnick's

Mild
1.       Gator's Wing Shack
2.       District Bar
3.       Wild Goose

BBQ
1.       Buffalo Wings & Rings
2.       Timothy O'Toole's
3.       Wool St./Anthem

Exotic
1.       Take Me Out
2.       Jake Melnick's
3.       Crossroads

Hot
1.       Jake Melnick's
2.       Crosstown Pub
3.       Tie between Hi-Tops and Bull & Bear

I've actually had a chance to eat the Jake Melnick's H-O-T XXX Wings. They are easily the hottest thing I have ever consumed. Don't believe me - WATCH ME CRY....