Oops, they did it again.

Seriously, N&R, and for the second year in a row: if you are going to review wings, why not skip the crap from one of the national chains and write about something really good and local?

Minj was closed for renovations earlier this month, but that doesn't seem like an excuse for two years of neglect.

UPDATE: I, too, am willing to drink some beer and taste some wings, if only in the service of journalism and the spirit of fair play.

Comments

[David Hoggard]

Shameful reporting.

From this and last year's reporting, it doesn't look to me like they are trying to find GSO's best wings - they are doing quite the opposite and succeeding.

MINJ ROCKS. And Fisher's Grille doesn't suck in the wing department, either.

[Joe Killian]

All right - this one wasn't my fault...

[beth]

What the heck? Why would anyone even consider reviewing Papa John's & Harris Teeter?????

[Alan Cone Bulluck]

"Why would anyone even consider reviewing Papa John's & Harris Teeter?????"

Because they're lazy. They're also lazy when it comes to reporting on the
Guilford College incident. Read the Winston-Salem Journal if you want serious and in depth, newsworthy coverage of that story, rather than the same story every day, just written by a different staff writer.

[Kim]

The best wings in Greensboro can be found at MY HOUSE! I buy non-prepared wings, I have a deep fryer, a jar of Frank's Red Hot (which is actually on my kitchen table where most people put salt and pepper...we love hot sauce in this house!) my husband went to college in Buffalo, and we both grew up 3 hours east of Buffalo. We know wings! We should open a wing shop. :-) We're getting the homemade pizza thing down, too...maybe we should open a pizza and wing shop! Hmmmm...

[Fran]

The biggest problem with this story is that no addresses are provided for these restaurants/stores/pizza deliverers or whatever they are. I've never heard of some of them and have no idea where they are, whether they are eat-in or strictly take-out and if they deliver. There's not even a phone number so I can call and ask, myself. I had this same complaint about last year's article and apparently the N&R didn't consider the note I sent then important enough to remember when writing this year's article. It's as if we live in Mayberry and everyone is supposed to just know where Floyd's barbershop is located.

[Steve Collins]

To the person above who said to read the Winston-Salem paper's coverage of the Guilford College incident: are you nuts? The Journal merely printed the Associated Press stories, which were largely based on what appeared in the News & Record. I'll grant you that the AP put a harder spin on the facts, but the reporting was done at this paper. I happen to think the AP stories are better, too, because they didn't soft peddle the ledes. But don't trash the reporting done here. It was excellent.

[jeri rowe]

Y'all:

As one of those alleged wing reviewers, I figured I'd better weigh in on our new wing conspiracy. From what I recall, here's how it unfolded...

Mike Kernels, the N&R's assistant features editor, took recommendations from all of us. I remember a few of us mentioned Minj. But when it came time for the napkin to meet the mouth at noon, Minj didn't make it for the simple reason they didn't open until 4 p.m. That's it. But I know a few of us judges were disappointed Minj wasn't onboard. We all wanted to taste their excellent sauce.

Now, Papa John's was brought in, from what I heard, because they called us last year after our wing challenge and asked to be a part of it. So, I heard discussion about bringing them in to see how they would rate.

As for Harris Teeter, that was more of a Taj MaTeeter thing. With the chain's humongous building on West Friendly, we figured folks would make a bee-line for that place during the Super Bowl because the store touts itself as a place to chow. Man, have you been in there? It would almost make K&W jealous. So, again, we figured why not.

As for Fisher's, Dave, you're right. Damn good wings. I don't know why they weren't brought in.

So, that's it. Hope that helps. Debate away.

[Joe Killian]

Someone told me, though I can't confirm this independtly just now, that Minj is not open on Sundays.

That, if true, would seem to disqualify them from being the best wings for a football game in town - though I'm certainly of the opinion they make the bill on taste alone.

[Ed Cone]

Jeri, thanks for coming into the lion's den. I think it's great that people take the N&R seriously, even for fun features -- and when you mix in important stuff like wings, all bets are off.

I'm with you on the Taj Ma-Teeter, it's marketed as a provider for an event like this one, it deserves a place at the table. And hey, Papa Johns is the way we live now...they asked, and they got whacked.

But since you are discussing food for a party -- something for which many people might order in advance -- the Minj hours-of-operation arguments are pretty useless.

Next year, when you include the addresses as Fran suggests above, also note that you need to pick up your Minj order on Saturday afternoon...

As for overlooking Fishers, and perhaps other local spots -- I understand that you are serving a wide audience, and so using chains and spreading the contestants across town makes some degree of sense -- but it seems that readers would be better served by a rating of local, idiosyncratic fare -- that's the value-add for a local paper.

[jeri rowe]

Ed & Fran:

You're right. I think the addresses should have been in there.

As for the local, idiosyncratic fare, you're right on that, too. As well as the hours-of-operation argument. We'll work on that for next year.

I just hope I'm invited back to the table. Some damn good wings.

[Ed Cone]

Thanks, Jeri -- if you need any taste-testers, I volunteer.

[MyTwoCents]

To all the chicken wing aficionado's - all I can say is that Papa John's was a POOR choice. Baked chicken wings? NO - they don't count.

I have a recommendation - try Georges Pizza and Subs on RANDLEMAN Road - at the corner of Vandalia.

I was born and raised in Buffalo - I believe I can speak first hand with regards to true Buffalo Wings.

[Roger]

MINJ has the best wings in Greensboro, period.

Also, Taj Ma Teeter has been renamed Teeter Dome with the new building. Don't you guys read the Rhino Times?? LOL!!!