Innovation or Abomination?

Once wings were sold in buckets. Then wingmakers switched to styrofoam clam-shell cartons. And to tins.

That was the extent of innovation I had seen in 25 years of eating wings.

Then I went to the national wing festival and found a number of devices designed to make eating wings easier. My favorite was the Snackdaddy, a round serving dish that looks like a Michigan rummy tray. Compartments for holding wings ring the perimeter (like penny compartments in a rummy tray). A compartment in the center holds the blue cheese dressing (like the kitty in a rummy tray).

(The Snackdaddy has a fatal flaw, in my opinion: it brings the wing AWAY from the eater, towards the blue cheese (meaning the eater has to bring the wing the same distance back again to his/her mouth). The better design would be having the wings in the center and the dressing in the outer ring.)

What to make of the latest wing invention, the trong? http://www.trongs.com/. The trong is a staple-remover-shaped device that allows you to grab (and eat) wings without getting your hands saucey.

It's impressive that a couple of wing-eaters extrapolated from a drunken conversation to what appears to be a semi-viable business. It shows commitment bordering on fanaticism. I also appreciate the trongs transformer-like design.

However, I see two serious problems: 1. cleaning a wing is not easy; it requires the dexterity of one's fingers (in direct contact with the wing) 2. people ENJOY eating wings with their hands. That's part of the wing's charm. Just as few people want to eat pizza with a fork, and no one wants to eat popcorn with a spoon, I don't think many people will want to use the throng. (I have to admit I kind of want to try it, but not enough to order one).

Wing-dispensing innovations are like new wing sauces. Forty years ago butchers threw wings away. Now you can get them in a 100 flavors and eat them without getting your fingers dirty. But what does it amount to? Does a honey-mustard wing taste better than a classic Buffalo wing? No way.

Comments

[Sol Rosenberg]

I tried them at a winghouse in Manhattan and I have to tell you they were great. I am a student and I was reading a text book while eating wings and and enjoying a pint of my favorite ale and the trongs kept my hands, and therfore my book very clean. I received a text message and was able to respond without gunking up my I-phone.

[Sol Rosenberg]

I tried them at a winghouse in Manhattan and I have to tell you they were great. I am a student and I was reading a text book while eating wings and and enjoying a pint of my favorite ale and the trongs kept my hands, and therfore my book very clean. I received a text message and was able to respond without gunking up my I-phone.

[Sol Rosenberg]

I tried them at a winghouse in Manhattan and I have to tell you they were great. I am a student and I was reading a text book while eating wings and and enjoying a pint of my favorite ale and the trongs kept my hands, and therfore my book very clean. I received a text message and was able to respond without gunking up my I-phone.