Wingnutz headed to Amherst
Ed and Alicia Wrazen built a better chicken wing, and the world came and found them.
Their 2018 launch of Wingnutz, featuring a characteristic crunchy coating on carefully cooked jumbo chicken digits, was followed by social media rave reviews. Last year, the hosts of “Pardon My Take,” a sports-centric podcast that usually draws more than 750,000 listeners per episode, tried the Wrazens’ work and declared: “We Found The Best Wings In The World.”
Which is how one of Buffalo’s most talked-about wing destinations turned out to be a Knights of Columbus hall – not even the bar, but a side room with no alcohol service.
When AJ Giordano found out the Wrazens were considering selling the business, he bought in. Now Ed and Alicia will be working their wing skills at 2675 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, the building that was Claudette’s Catering. As of July 13, Wingnutz is an Amherst destination.
It’s takeout only, and there’s still no alcohol, but at least fans can say hello to Ed and Alicia. They’ll be working there, making people happy one plate at a time, said Giordano, veteran cook and chef-owner of Munch, at Froth Brewery.
“They are very much the face of the franchise,” he said.
There’s more fryer capacity at the new location, capable of about 600 wings an hour, Giordano estimated.
For now, hours are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Order through munchbuffalo.com (select Boulevard location) or toasttab.com/wingnutz for pickup.
Once there’s a new hood installed in the kitchen at Froth Brewery, 700 Military Road, Wingnutz will be there too, Giordano said.
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