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Restaurant receives record number of votes during 9th annual event in Downtown Schenectady
SCHENECTADY, NY – October 1, 2022 – A total of 19 locations served up a mouthwatering selection of chicken wing recipes during the 9th Annual Wing Walk today from 12:00-5:00 p.m. in Downtown Schenectady. On hiatus during the pandemic, the sold-out event returned today for the first time since 2019 with a record crowd of 2,200 guests.
Jim Salengo, executive director of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC), said, “Downtown Schenectady was the place to be today! The community was clearly ready for the return of one of our most popular events, and the streets and businesses were packed with people all afternoon. We were thrilled to see our businesses receive such great exposure, as well as a major economic boost.”
Guests were encouraged to cast votes for their favorite wing flavor; nearly 1,400 votes were cast in special locked ballot boxes placed around downtown. After all ballots were counted following the event, the 2022 Wing Walk winners by popular vote were as follows:
- First place went to Ya Ya’s House Southern Cuisine for their Sweet Potato Wing. Ya Ya’s
set a record for the total number of votes received by a winning restaurant during any Wing Walk, which amounted 1/3 of all votes cast.
- Second place went to The Nest for their Sticky Hot Honey Wing.
- Third place went 20 North Broadway Tavern for their Rasp-banero Wing.
In addition to the popular vote, a pair of special guest judges rated wings in several categories. Judges were Tim Walton of Tim’s NY Kitchen and 518 Brews, and well-known Schenectady foodie Katie Alois. Judges’ picks were:
- Judges’ Top Wing: Ya Ya’s House Southern Cuisine, Sweet Potato Wing
- Most Creative Wing: Manhattan Exchange, Orange Soda Jerk Wing
- Best Sauce: Chez Nous, Hickory Smoked Chipotle Wing with a Chili Pepper Glaze
- Best Presentation: Simone’s Kitchen, Shawarma Wing with a Lemony Aioli & Tzatziki-Blue Cheese
The 9th Annual Wing Walk was presented by the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation in partnership with downtown restaurants.
The 10th Annual Wing Walk in Downtown Schenectady is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023.