There are several legends about how Buffalo wings came to be. I propose that I know the true story. My story is that Buffalo wings originated on Oakcrest Drive in Atlanta, Georgia when my best friend C. Howie Hodges II a native son of Buffalo, New York in an attempt to impress the love his life developed a secret recipe and prepared chicken wings for his future wife, Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of the former Mayor of Atlanta Georgia, Maynard H. Jackson. There is no conceivable way that Howie did not originate the Buffalo wing recipe. You need only taste his Buffalo wings to reach the same conclusion. 

I am not at liberty to reveal Howie’s secret recipe mainly because I don’t know it. I have watched him prepare them only to have my wings slightly taste like his wings. This is what I do know: He takes the chicken wings out of the bag and washes them thoroughly. He then pats them dry with a paper towel. He cuts the tips of the wings off creating “flats” or “drummettes” They are then deep fried and coated with Howie’s secret sauce. I have noticed that he uses hot sauce and butter with a unique blend. Howie’s sauce can be prepared with a variable amount of heat, such as mild, hot and hot as hell! When he takes the wings out of the frying pan I have noticed that he makes a strange noise and gesture over the wings much like the gesture used by a magician. Many people who have tasted Howie’s wings believe that the noise and gesture may very well contain the secret. You only have to taste Howie’s Buffalo wings to agree. 

Howie’s Buffalo wings are traditionally served with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing. He may on occasion serve them with fries, carrot sticks and ranch dressing. If you ever travel to Buffalo New York ask any restaurant serving wings that you would like your wings prepared: “Howie Hodges Style. Howie’s Buffalo wings are the best in America! I have begged him to sell his recipe. 

Howie does not accept the honor of being the originator of the Buffalo wing concept. He gives that honor to the Anchor Bar, located at 1047 Main Street in Buffalo, New York. I accepted his humility until I ate there and in my opinion the Anchor Bar served delicious wings, but Howie Hodges’ wings were a hundred times better.

In the words of my dad, “If these gas prices get any higher I am going to buy me a horse!”