Letter: History, facts and Buffalo wings

Over the years, I’ve talked to many people who believe Buffalo wings were named after the buffalo who roam the great prairies out west. But all too often, the American general public is misinformed. First, there are no buffalo in North America. There are bison, which are often mistaken for buffalo, but in fact, they’re two distinctly different species.

Buffalo wings were invented by Teressa Bellissimo, co-owner of The Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York in 1964. Hence, the name “Buffalo” with a capital “B”.

After the restaurant closed one night, Teressa cut many chicken wings in half to make smaller wingettes and drumettes. She kept them unbreaded and deep-fried them. After they were cooked, she added hot sauce and arranged them with stalks of celery and bleu cheese dressing. She served this dish to her son, Dominic, and a group of his friends. They loved the late-night snack so much that Teressa added her chicken wings to the menu the following day.

In western New York state, this establishment is legendary. Buffalo wings are an example of true American ingenuity that put a dying industrial city in The Rust Belt back on the map. And ever since that legendary moment in 1964, Buffalo wings have become an expected staple at restaurants, taverns, and sports events nationwide.

Regarding history and facts: We’re now consumed by a culture that proffers, and often prefers mythology, deception and conspiracy theories. Stories abound, and with mass media, they’re sometimes inescapable. So, along the lines of Buffalo wings being named after the “buffalo” out west, the words of Edgar Allen Poe (with some edits by Lou Reed) probably said it best: “Don’t believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.”

Craig Malmrose

Ayden