By Scott Cronick
The biggest Atlantic City Wing Fest may have been the best yet. More than 1,300 people from the tri-state area assembled at the Golden Nugget on Saturday, Feb. 3, for the seventh annual celebration of all things chicken wings.
When it was all over, more than 30,000 wings made by a record 21 South Jersey restaurants were consumed. Ten contestants got really messy dunking for wings in giant wooden bowls of blue cheese, the Fat Boy Munch Club was well represented and The Billy Walton Band rocked the house.
No complaints were had as the area’s best restaurants and pubs offered the most creative and finger-licking wings and dipping sauces to go with awesome music, fun contests, awards, craft beer, cocktails and more!
While attendees vowed to eat as many of the 21 wings they could handle – some went up for seconds and thirds, by the way – the restaurants in attendance were hoping to get some of the hardware separated into three categories.
First up, the Fat Boy Munch Club consisting of me and Ryan Loughlin handed out more than a half dozen specialty awards. Then, everyone in attendance was given a poker chip to vote for their favorite restaurant offering of the day. Finally, three sequestered judges and food experts from Philadelphia ripped into all 21 and scored them to come up with the three Judges Choice winners.
Atlantic City Wing Fest 2024 was certainly one for the culinary record books. Support Wing Fest restaurants by going to their joints – eat in or takeout – for the Super Bowl, and make sure you buy Wing Fest 2025 tickets when they go on sale in the fall so you don’t get shut out again!
Wing Fest 2024 Winners
Judges Choice
1st Place: Villain & Saint at Ocean Casino Resort, Sriracha Agave Wings with Pineapple Bourbon Dipping Sauce
2nd Place: AC Burger Co. At Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Ethiopian Spiced Wings with Crunchy Cucumber Salad
3rd Place: Il Porcellino Italian Market, Cacio e Pepe Roasted Chicken Wing with Calabrian Chili Glaze
Eaters Choice
1st Place: Michael Patrick’s from Golden Nugget, Garlic Buffalo Wings with Smoked Paprika Blue Cheese Aioli
2nd Place: Villain & Saint
3rd Place: MotleyQue NJ, Twisted Thwings with Motley Kick BBQ Cream
Fat Boy Munch Club Awards
Best Overall Dipping Sauce: Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Korean BBQ Wings with Kimchi Blue Cheese
Fancy Pants Dipping Sauce: Rose’s Garden Grill, Yo Mom Ee Wings with Yo Dad Ee Blue Cheese
Fancy Pants Wing: Ossu at Tropicana Atlantic City, Yakitori Grilled Wings with Buttermilk and Chive Blue Cheese
Damn! Those Wings are Hot: Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern, Caramel Bourbon Wings with Alabama White Sauce
Best Wing and Dipping Sauce Combo: Holy City Publick House, Chiodi Wings with Poblano Ranch
Most Dapper Display (tie): Yesterday’s; Dos Caminos at Nugget, Pastor Marinated Honey Chipotle Wings with a Charred Scallion Crema; Professional Chef’s Association of South Jersey, Caribbean Jerk Wings with Spicy Caribbean Ranch Dressing
Best Classic Wing (tie): Hooters of Atlantic City, 3 Mile Island Wings with Rockin’ Ranch Dipping Sauce; Draftkings Sportsbook at Resorts Casino Hotel, Traditinal Buffallo Wings with Blue Cheese and Pickled Celery
Scott Cronick is an award-winning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades. He hosts a daily radio show – “Off The Press with Scott Cronick” – 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also co-owns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.
