Peppers at the Beach hosts Spicy Foods Tailgate Party and Wing Contests
All it took was an invitation from hot-sauce guru and Peppers owner Chip Hearn to have some of the nation’s most successful hottest chefs and extreme food personalities in the world gather for the second annual Peppers at the Beach Spicy Food Tailgate Party.
New to this year’s event was a three-pronged wing contest that included categories for Best Restaurant Wings, Most Unusual Wings, and Best Buffalo Wings. Event sponsor Mountaire Farms provided 3,000 wings for the competition in which individuals and restaurants could showcase their culinary skills.
Hundreds of people showed up as tasters for the May 21 competition to vote for the wings that they loved the most.
Winning first place in the Most Unusual Wings competition, Chef William Samoza took bragging rights home to Bethany Blues for its Boucheli Fire Wings. Made with cherry, jalapenos, salt, pepper, garlic, cumin and a shot of bourbon, the wings won out over other unique entries that included such unique concoctions as jelly & jam wings, strawberry wings, and wings coated in a peach butter glaze.
A relative newcomer to the local restaurant scene, Timothy’s of Rehoboth Beach, took first place over more than 20 competitors in the Restaurant Wings Contest. Chef Jared Martin attributes their victory to making the right selection from its various hot wings that range from Double Dipped to Blazin’ to Triple Threat – with Blazin’ winning the day.
“There are no rules and there’s no definition of a Buffalo Wing,” said Hearn as he called for entries in the Buffalo Wing Contest. “The only thing we can be sure of is that they’re not from Buffalo anymore!”
Master Chef Johnny McLaughlin of Heartbreaking Dawns won the Best Buffalo Wings contest with his Loup Garou Cajun Ghost Wings, created using Heartbreaking Dawn Cajun Rub and 1841 Ghost Pepper Sauce.
When not judging wings, guests to the tailgate party visited chefs and exhibitors who offered samples, recipes and ingredients, and enjoyed live national broadcasts and interviews with such industry stars as Defcon Sauces John Dilley.
“Everything that happened this weekend was amazing. Incredible food, and incredible people,” Hearn said. “We are definitely doing this again in 2012!”
The public has voted and the winners are . . .
Best Buffalo Wings Competition
First place winner: Johnny McLaughlin of Heartbreaking Dawns
Second place: John Dilley of Defcon Sauces
Third place: Marty McDonnell of Rehoboth Beach’s Ledo Pizza.
Fourth place: Bob Forwood of Dewey Beach’s Wings to Go
Best Restaurant Wings Competition
First place winner: Timothy’s with Chef Jared Martin
Second place: Irish Eyes with Chef Robert Belle
Third place: Bethany Blues with Chef William Samoza
Most Unusual Wings Competition
First place winner: Bethany Blues with Chef William Samoza
Second place: Betty’s with Chef Jesse Howell
Third place: Timothy’s with Chef Jared Martin
