Buffalo chicken has earned a cult following across America. The tangy, butter-drenched chicken bites slathered in hot sauce are a fixture of sports bars and late-night takeout orders. But ever wonder why this dish is named after an animal it doesn’t contain?
The story behind the name reveals a savory tale of tasty invention and smoky controversy. So grab your wet naps and dive in!
The Birth of Buffalo Wings
Our story starts in (you guessed it) Buffalo, New York.
Back in 1964, Italian immigrant Frank Bellissimo owned a neighborhood tavern called the Anchor Bar One late weekend night, Frank’s son Dominic came into the bar famished after a few drinks
Dominic asked his mother Teressa, who also worked at the bar, to whip up a quick snack with whatever was in the kitchen. Teressa grabbed some chicken wings, which were considered waste cuts at the time, fried them up crisp, and tossed them in a buttery hot sauce.
An iconic dish was born! Teressa’s impromptu recipe for “buffalo wings” became a signature item at the Anchor Bar. Throughout the 60s and 70s buffalo wings were a local delicacy in Buffalo.
The Great Buffalo Wing Debate
Here’s where things get messy. While the Bellissimos maintain they invented buffalo wings, some challengers to the origin story have emerged over the years.
John Young, a Black chef in Buffalo, claimed he was serving a similar dish years before the Anchor Bar. His hometown crowd knew Young’s Wings ‘n Things restaurant as the OG buffalo wing creator.
Young’s wings were coated in a sweet-spicy “mambo sauce” – unlike the Bellissimos’ hot-butter wing sauce. Still, he argued the concept came from his kitchen first.
Another competitor, Duff’s Famous Wings, also maintains they were dishing buffalo wings before the Bellissimos took credit.
The great buffalo wing debate rages on. But most food historians give the Anchor Bar credit for popularizing the dish by replacing mambo with hot sauce and making buffalo wings a menu staple.
Taking Flight Across America
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, buffalo wings flew out of their hometown niche and soared in popularity nationwide. Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Domino’s and other chains started featuring bone-in and boneless buffalo wings.
Sports bars like Hooters and Buffalo Wild Wings emerged to meet the growing demand. Their affordable bar food menus with piles of cheap wings were perfect for burgeoning football watch parties.
From Super Bowl appetizers to late-night college study snacks, Americans couldn’t get enough buffalo wings. The city of Buffalo itself became synonymous with the peppery wings.
Beyond Wings: The Buffalo Chicken Empire
It didn’t take long for restaurants to realize the addictive buffalo wing flavor profile could seasoning much more than drumettes and flats.
Buffalo chicken dip, sandwiches, pizza, wraps, and more allowed the spice to spread. Today, you can find buffalo flavor coating everything from cauliflower to quesadillas.
The versatility of buffalo sauce has enabled it to permeate every corner of American food culture. It’s even become a staple condiment found bottled on supermarket shelves.
Why the Name Stuck
So that brings us back to the initial question – why do we call it buffalo chicken when the dish contains no bison meat whatsoever?
The name pays homage to buffalo wings’ birthplace and original hometown. By calling it “buffalo” chicken, we tie the flavor to its geographic roots.
The city of Buffalo itself has fully embraced its sauce-slathered claim to fame. They celebrate National Chicken Wing Day every year and even have a festival devoted to buffalo wings.
So while it may seem odd to name a chicken dish after an unrelated animal, the history makes it clear. When we say “buffalo,” we’re talking about the New York city, not the wildlife roaming the plains.
Bringing the Heat Home
Once a regional delight, buffalo chicken has become a national obsession. Its addictive flavor profile keeps fans coming back for more, regardless of its ambiguous name.
The contentious origins and apparent misnomer have done nothing to diminish buffalo chicken’s popularity. The fiery favorite continues to ignite taste buds from coast to coast.
So next time you dig into juicy buffalo wings or a saucy buffalo chicken sandwich, appreciate the savory history in each bite. And thank the city of Buffalo for bringing the heat to American cuisine!
Once Upon A Time in Buffalo, New York…
In 1964, the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York was faced with a problem. The family-owned and operated business had a surplus of chicken wings in their kitchen, and they weren’t quite sure what to do with them. Bar owner Teresa Bellissimo had an idea: What if she deep-fried the wings, covered them with hot sauce, and served them with blue cheese dressing? This impromptu recipe would form the foundation of buffalo wings as we know them today, and they quickly exploded in popularity after their inception. Bellissimo’s recipe would soon be called “Buffalo Chicken Wings†after the city from which they originated: Buffalo, New York.
How Buffalo Wings Spread Beyond Buffalo
For the next few years, buffalo wings would largely remain a regional dish that could only be found in the state of New York. After all, what better way to spend the cold winter months than by feasting on some hot and spicy wings? However, like many delicious food items, the recipe for buffalo wings was taken abroad, and restaurants all along the East Coast began serving their own hot wings. By the 1990s, wing restaurants could be found all over the country, and several new wing flavors were developed to accommodate the different tastes of each region. Sure, you could still get classic Buffalo wings, but new flavors such as BBQ, teriyaki, and garlic parmesan allowed customers to mix and match their favorites.Â
Who Really Created the Buffalo Chicken Wing?
FAQ
Why are they called Buffalo chicken?
They commonly are served with celery and a blue cheese dipping sauce, which acts as a cooling agent for the mouth. A popular bar food and appetizer, wings can be ordered mild or spicy, and boneless varieties are also common. The name comes from Buffalo, New York, where the dish was created.
Does Buffalo chicken have buffalo in it?
Buffalo wings are named after Buffalo, New York, where they were invented, and have no relation to the animal. They are often called simply chicken wings, hot wings, or just wings.
What is the meaning of Buffalo chicken?
“Buffalo chicken” typically refers to chicken wings that are deep-fried and coated in a sauce made with cayenne pepper hot sauce, melted butter, and sometimes other ingredients like vinegar or Worcestershire sauce. This style of cooking chicken wings is called “Buffalo” because it originated in Buffalo, New York.
Why is hot stuff called buffalo?
Why is it called buffalo sauce? Simply put, buffalo sauce gets its name because it’s extracted from the pituitary gland of North American bison.Jan 23, 2023
Why is Buffalo chicken called Buffalo Chicken?
Buffalo chicken is a popular dish that features crispy fried chicken coated in a tangy and spicy sauce. Despite its name, buffalo chicken does not actually contain buffalo meat. So, why is it called buffalo chicken? Let’s uncover the origin of this mouthwatering dish and shed light on some related FAQs.
Where did Buffalo Chicken come from?
Let’s uncover the origin of this mouthwatering dish and shed light on some related FAQs. The name “buffalo chicken” can be traced back to the city of Buffalo, New York, where the dish is said to have originated. In the mid-1960s, a bar called the Anchor Bar in Buffalo is believed to have created this delectable treat.
Why are Buffalo Chicken Wings named ‘Buffalo’?
Buffalo Chicken Wings are named ‘Buffalo’ because the first plate of wings was served in Buffalo at a family-owned establishment called the Anchor Bar in 1964. Teressa Bellissimo, the creator of the dish, covered them in her own special sauce and served them with a side of blue cheese and celery because that’s what she had available.
Is Buffalo Chicken a American dish?
Yes, buffalo chicken is considered an American dish, specifically originating from Buffalo, New York. 11. Can you make buffalo chicken in a slow cooker? Yes, buffalo chicken can be prepared in a slow cooker by cooking the chicken in the sauce for a longer period, resulting in tender and flavorful meat.
Is Buffalo Chicken made from chicken?
No, buffalo chicken is not made from buffalo meat. It is typically made with chicken wings or chicken breast. 2. What sauce is used for buffalo chicken?
Why is it called a Buffalo?
The animal has been referred to as a “buffalo” – which is a form of a French word “boeuff”, simply meaning “large cow”, and from which the word “beef” also comes – throughout its history, and the word “buffalo” has been used in reference to the American animal as far back as 1635.