SCHENECTADY – A record total of 22 restaurants served up a mouthwatering selection of chicken wing recipes during the 5th Annual Wing Walk on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 12:00-5:00 p.m. in Downtown Schenectady. Guests flocked to downtown for the sold-out event, with 1,500 tickets sold through the Proctors Box Office—500 more than last year. Guests were encouraged to cast votes for their favorite wing flavor and, after all ballots were counted following the event, the 2016 Wing Walk Winner by popular vote was 20 North Broadway Tavern for their Sweet & Spicy “Squatch” Sauce Wing. This marks the 5th straight year that 20 North Broadway Tavern has won or tied for the top spot. Second place went to Pho Queen for their Siamese Wing; Canvas, Corks & Forks placed third for their Smoked Gouda & Honey Pecan BBQ Boneless Wing.
“The Wing Walk gets bigger and better each year, thanks to the extremely popular and ever-growing restaurant scene in Downtown Schenectady,” said Jim Salengo, executive director of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation. “Events like this showcase downtown’s excellent variety of dining options and great walkability. Thank you to all of our participating restaurants and guests for making it a fantastic day in Downtown Schenectady.”
In addition to the popular vote, a panel of special guest judges also rated wings in several categories. Judges were Daniel Berman, Food Blogger at Fussy Little Blog; Dan Maddalone and Ryan McCalla, DJs at 102.7 WEQX-FM; and Chris Lamberth, Comedian and Host of Mundane Festival Podcast. Judges’ picks were:
- Judges’ Top Wing: 20 North Broadway Tavern – Sweet & Spicy “Squatch” Sauce Wing
- Most Creative Wing: Taj Mahal Restaurant – Taj Mahal Spicy Wing
- Best Sauce or Dry Rub: Café NOLA – Cajun Wing
- Best Texture: Manhattan Exchange – Mango Habanero Wing
- Best Appearance or Presentation: Marotta’s Bar-Risto – Fra Diavolo Wing
The 5th Annual Wing Walk was presented by the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, Visit Schenectady and Schenectady County Special Events. Promotional support was provided by 102.7 WEQX-FM.