Josh Kingsley

Another week another work trip. My road week began Sunday morning at the worst bridal expo I’ve ever attended in Chicago. Why was it bad? It lacked a couple things indicative of a wedding show: brides and wedding vendors. That’s a story for another day. Anyway, an afternoon flight from ORD put me in Western NY Sunday evening for my week in Buffalo. This was my second trip to a city I enjoy. I Arrived with an agenda: learn some stuff and enjoy the local food scene.

I hit Buffalo last December and grabbed wings at Duff’s and Gabriel’s Gate. Wing connoisseurs, historians, Buffalo natives and seasoned travelers know I missed a major box in Anchor Bar.

Anchoring Culinary History

Anchor Bar is the OG Buffalo Wing maker. You can read the history page on their site, which paints a nice picture of culinary innovation. I was not at Anchor Bar that fateful 1964 evening but know the scene well enough. In fact I can pinpoint multiple situations being either Dominic or the friends. My mom always took the time to give the rides and make the food. In my situation it was typically heating a frozen pizza with fresh heated ground beef, warming up bierocks or biscuits and gravy. I cannot recall being subject of an experiment. Again, I was not in Anchor Bar on March 4, 1964, but here is how I saw it go down.

Dominic worked and his friends went out. Maybe it was a responsible night, maybe his parents shamed him into working. Note this was a Wednesday (or AM after a Tuesday night). Sometime around midnight the drunken yahoos he called friends made an appearance at his job, Anchor Bar. Said friends finally calmed down long enough to order food. The kitchen mostly closed, but Dominic advocated for his friends and the silence food could produce. His mom, Teressa, who also wanted more silence, reluctantly agreed. The flat grill and over were off and clean for the night, but the fryer was still warm. French fries weren’t covering this one. Her solution: fry the chicken wings and come up with an alternative soup special than chicken noodle the next day. Breading was never happening due to the mess it would make. Serve them plain? Nah… hey what about that scratch experimental hot sauce.? That’s the ticket!!

Dominic’s friends loved it, the sauce was a hit, great had by all. Teressa made wings again the next day to make sure they love was authentic, not induced.

Bar Food Masterpiece

Buffalo makes the best chicken wings, and it isn’t close. I tip my hat to Teressa for dong the cool mom thing and handling her son and his friends. She took a risk and made a gold mine. All us beer drinking bar goers owe her a debt for one of the greatest menu items in history. She makes sports, late nights, keto diets and chicken cravings better. The thing that blows my mind more than anything is the cleanliness of the story. Buffalo wings came from Teressa and Anchor Bar. Everyone in Buffalo agrees. Other notable regional foods, such as the Philly Steak, produce conflicting stories. There is always a “well, maybe, but maybe not” caveat to review. Not with Buffalo wings. Everyone knows their origin and no one argues otherwise. That’s cool. Pin this thought for a moment.

______________________

Link to Evolocity — We Buy Houses

If you mention ArrowheadOne, we get a commission.

_____________________

The Players

Two trips to Buffalo, many networking points and suggestions, three venerable wing stops. I’m missing at least one strong recommend, a place called Bar-Bill (pin that too), so more work for the future. It’s time to make a call on my favorite. Please note two things: favorite and life in general is a time/place thing, and I am taking an easy-ish road.

Anchor Bar: the OG. Mad props due. The wings are delicious, the sauce (the original medium) tasty and flavorful. That sauce is not hot by spicy food lover’s standards. I don’t actively seek heat in food, so perfect in my mind. The bar itself is spectacular. Tons of relics all over and walls lined with license plates from around the country. You feel history when you walk in the door. Someday I’m taking the family to Niagra Falls. This is where we will go for wings.
Duff’s: many in Buffalo’s favorite. The sauciest and spiciest of the three, and by a wide margin. Wall paintings warn of their sauce heat. Also, excellent wings. The mild light sauce made me sweat. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor, but it was toward the top of my tolerance to still enjoy. This is the only spot for the spicy food lovers.
Gabriel’s Gate: the deep cut of the group. You probably don’t stumble on this place, so referral needed. I hit this place after a hockey game during Thursday Night Football. Crowded bar, surly staff, zero patience for questions, just order food and beer. The Gates BBQ of the group. I didn’t need to socialize and the food quality justified the attitude. This is my favorite spot. If I am entertaining a group of friends after a game or night out (AKA Dominic’s buddies in my version above) it’s this place all day.

.

One More Local Delight

Buffalo has not one, but two local delights. The second is Beef on Weck.

Here is a nice write up of the history. I heard about it the December trip, and tried it this one. Anchor Bar has a Best of Buffalo Combo, which is five wings and weck. The sandwich is roast beef on a salt and caraway seed covered roll. Horseradish is an absolute must. You will notice in the story the origin is less definitive. Locals swear by Charlie’s. I plan to hit there and the likely OG, Schwabl’s next visit. Along with wings at Bar-Bill.

Necessary Detour

The work week finished Wednesday at noon. My original plan was minor league baseball, but he ash pollution had the Internet telling me to stay inside. I listened… ish. Wasting pleasant weather isn’t my style, but neither is breathing a few hours of ashen haze. I compromised and paid ole Niagra a visit. It was a nice hour in the elements to get a glimpse of the American side. The Canadian side is better as most note, but the American side is stunning. My intention was a stop at Bar-Bill, but fate and my memory had other plans as I recalled a recent Arrowhead Kingdom addition.

Buffalo has a CHIEFS backer bar called Casey’s Black Rock, and I simply had to drop in a see the place. I took a seat at the bar, complimented the décor and learned the bartender was the owner –> Vinny. We exchanged pleasantries and fan stories, which led to a longer stay. Bar-Bill was dead on arrival to Casey’s. The night took an additional step upon realization it was trivia night. I absorbed onto a team with Vinny and a regular patron… and we won.

This place is a local gem. The food is excellent and the vibes fun. I cannot wait to go back. Cheers to Vinny for creating a bit of KC in Buffalo!!

Sad Reminder

The football world lost a notable name in Ryan Mallett this week. My lasting memories of Mallet start with his success at the college level with Arkansas. Mallet starred during the solid runs in 2009 and 2010, which put the Razorbacks on a national stage. I recall watching Mallet carve up SEC defenses thinking he would look awesome in red and gold. Ryan did not play for KC as the Patriots called his name in the draft. New England had Brady, so he was backup spending time 2nd and 3rd on the depth chart. In 2014 he made his sway to Houston in what ultimately became his best shot to play QB in the NFL.

Mallet ultimately found his calling in coaching. Coaching took him back to native Arkansas where he spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as assistant coach before taking the head coach job at White Hall High School in White Hall, AR. Ryan Mallett’s coaching career came to abrupt halt on Tuesday, June 27th in Destin, FL. He swam into the Gulf, struggled in the rip tide, and died by drowning accident. The oceans and seas have a mind of their own and an insurmountable power. Mallett, a great athlete, died by a harsh reminder of this fact. RIP Ryan.

Joe Delaney

I finalize this writing on June 29, 2023, a date 40 years after Joe Delaney tragically died in the most selfless of acts. Joe died a hero disregarding his promising football career to take care of others. A mother still had a son on this day in 1983 because of Joe. June 29 is an annual sad reminder of this incident. It’s also an annual call from me as a CHIEFS fan to the organization. Clark, please retire Joe’s number 37 officially.

Happy Birthday

Happy 36th birthday to the cinematic masterpiece we call Space Balls.

This is Mel Brooks at his absolute parody best. Space Balls is an awesome spoof of Stars Wars and the sci fi movie genre. Brooks leads an incredible cast of comedy geniuses including the late John Candy and the mostly retired Rick Moranis. The best part of Space Balls birthday is its presence on the cable channels. I stayed up way too late watching this one.

Josh Kingsley — ArrowheadOne and Arrowhead Kingdom