Wing lovers in the Metro Atlanta are in for a treat this spring as Hooters is testing and rolling out Smoked Wings at its local restaurants. Oklahoma City is the other test market for Smoked Wings and according to Hooters Executive Chef and Director of Product Development, Gregg Brickman, things are going very well.
“The art of smoking meat has become a huge trend in food preparation and wing lovers are really taking to the taste and flavor the Smoked Wings,” said Brickman over lunch of Smoked Wings and sweet tea at the Hooters location in Roswell.
To say these wings are fresh is an understatement. Hooters Smoked Wings are regionally-sourced and marinated overnight for about 12 hours in a sweet and spicy dry rub before being smoked in-house with Hooters oven smokers. Several dry rub flavors, including jerk chicken, Texas BBQ and garlic habanero are available as are any of Hooters signature sauces, such as such as Daytona, teriyaki-style samurai, lemon pepper and chipotle honey. The hickory smoked flavor combined with the sauces is a slam dunk this March Madness season.
Chef Brickman says one of the other great things about Hooters Smoked Wings is they are half the calories of traditional wings.
“Not only do they have great flavor, but they are healthier,” adds Brickman, who came to Hooters after working for Wolfgang Puck for 13 years. “They have less fat and half the calories, so you can eat twice as many.”
Brickman also explained that a lot of testing went into perfecting the Smoked Wings. He said that he probably cooked 10,000 wings to get it right, and now Hooters customers are the beneficiary.
He also said that longtime and loyal Hooters wing customers are loving the finished product.
“The feedback has been tremendous,” smiled Brickman while holding a plate of the Smoked Wings. “Our customers know what to expect from our wings and adding Smoked Wings to the menu puts us ahead of the curve.”
Hooters new Smoked Wings are available at Atlanta-area Hooters restaurants. The cost breakdown is $8.09 for six wings, $10.99 for ten pieces, $16.49 for 15 pieces and $21.49 for 20 delicious Smoked Wings. Hooters is making culinary history with its Smoked Wings and this is your chance to be a part of all the fun.
