National Chicken Wing Day: 15 Original Hot Wings From Wingstop
Today is National Chicken Wing Day, so this one seemed to require an actual pile of chicken wings.
The modern Buffalo wing story is generally traced to Buffalo, New York, in 1964, when Teressa Bellissimo at the Anchor Bar deep-fried chicken wings, tossed them in a peppery hot sauce and served them with blue cheese and celery. There are competing versions of exactly how that first plate came about, but the Anchor Bar story became the one most closely associated with what we now know as Buffalo wings.
By 1977, wings had become such a part of Buffalo that Mayor Stan Makowski proclaimed July 29 “Chicken Wing Day.” That local proclamation eventually became the National Chicken Wing Day we observe today.
For my photograph, I went to Wingstop. The company started in Garland, Texas, in 1994, began franchising in 1997, and has since grown to thousands of restaurants around the world. By 2002, Wingstop had already served its one-billionth wing.
I bought 15 pieces of Original Hot, which seemed like the appropriate choice for the day. Just the wings exactly as I wanted to photograph them, piled against my very black black background.
That seemed much more appropriate for my “Food From Bag To Background” fast food photography project.
Happy National Chicken Wing Day!
You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com
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Wings and Waffles for National Chicken Wing Day
Today is National Chicken Wing Day, and I decided to do something a little different. Instead of photographing just wings, I thought—why not stack them on waffles? A twist on the classic chicken and waffles that has been a Southern comfort food staple for generations.
Chicken and waffles has deep roots in American food history. Its origins trace back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, where fried chicken and waffles were served together in the South. The pairing later became iconic in Harlem’s jazz clubs during the 1930s and 40s, offered as a hearty dish for late-night musicians and patrons—too early for dinner, too late for breakfast. Over time, it became a combination that blends sweet, savory, and crispy textures in one plate.
As for National Chicken Wing Day, that’s thanks to Buffalo, New York—the city credited with creating the Buffalo-style wing in 1964 at the Anchor Bar. Teressa Bellissimo is said to have fried leftover chicken wings for her son and his friends, tossing them in a spicy sauce and serving them with celery and blue cheese. The idea took off. By 1977, Buffalo declared July 29th as National Chicken Wing Day, cementing the city’s claim to the now-famous bar food.
So here we are—Buffalo wings meet Belgian waffles, photographed just as they were plated. No styling, no tricks. A nod to both a food holiday and an enduring classic that continues to reinvent itself.
Take a look at more of my work in my Commercial Food Photography gallery here:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU
International Chicken Wing Day
Today is International Chicken Wing Day, marking the popularity of one of the simplest yet most enduring foods in American dining culture. Chicken wings were first popularized in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, when Teressa Bellissimo cooked them in hot sauce and served them as a late-night snack for her son and his friends, creating what we now know as Buffalo wings.
The original Buffalo sauce is a straightforward mix of hot sauce, melted butter, and a few seasonings, creating a distinctive bright orange coating that has defined the category ever since. It’s estimated that Americans consume over 1.4 billion chicken wings on Super Bowl weekend alone, showing how wings have cemented their place as a go-to for takeout, parties, and game day gatherings. Wings remain a staple for bars, fast food, and home kitchens, served in countless variations from mild to extra hot.
This photo of Buffalo wings, photographed on a clean white background, is part of my ongoing commercial food photography project. I photograph foods exactly as they arrive, emphasizing their color, texture, and shape without styling tricks.
You can see more from this series in my commercial food photography gallery here:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU
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