As the legend goes, Anchor Bar’s famed chicken wings were created late one night in the 1960s by then-owner Teressa Bellissimo, who wanted to cook up something special for hungry regulars. Whether or not Buffalo wings had ever been made before is debatable, but it’s clear that the JBF America's Classics Award–winning Anchor Bar was one of the first places to serve this now ubiquitous snack. (Which begs the question: whatever did college students and Super Bowl fans eat before then?)
Anchor Bar won’t release the recipe for their famous wing sauce, but they sell bottles of it at their four upstate New York and Canadian locations and on their website in flavors ranging from “Mild” to “Suicidal.” If Anchor Bar’s sauce is unavailable, Frank’s Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is a close approximation. This recipe will yield crispy, tangy wings with just the right amount of heat. Get the recipe.
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Our America's Classics cookbook, James Beard’s All-American Eats: Recipes and Stories from Our Best-Loved Local Restaurants, makes the perfect gift. Order a copy today!
