Local chefs battle for wing bragging rights at Old Tucson

Tucson residents looking for a food focused community event this Saturday can head to Old Tucson for a showdown built around one of the city’s most popular casual foods. About 10 local competitors will take part in the Lord of the Wings competition from 6 to 10 p.m., giving attendees the chance to sample different wing recipes and help choose a winner. The event is open to the community, and wing samples are included with the price of admission. Along with tasting the entries, guests can cast a vote for the People’s Choice award.

The competition is being organized through a collaboration between Pop Studio and Backyard Eatz. Diego Rivera, the founder of Pop Studio, said the event is intended to bring together food vendors from different parts of Tucson’s culinary scene. Rather than limiting the contest to restaurants known specifically for wings, organizers invited competitors from a range of food backgrounds. That means the lineup will include cooks and businesses whose regular specialties vary widely, with each bringing a personal approach to the contest.

Rivera described the field as a mix of different food traditions and restaurant styles. One competitor is associated with seafood boils, while another specializes in Mexican food. Lindy’s on 4th, known for its burgers, is also entering the competition. The range of participants is part of what organizers hope will make the event appealing to Tucson diners. Each competitor will be working with the same broad concept, wings, while drawing on the flavors and techniques connected to their own kitchens.

For Lindy Reilly, the owner of Lindy’s on 4th, the contest is an opportunity to try something outside the restaurant’s best known focus. Reilly said he entered for fun, but he has been actively refining recipes for the event. One of his entries is based on a sauce already offered at the restaurant, though he has redeveloped it for the competition. He described that version as a sweet and spicy take on boom boom sauce, giving it a balance of heat and sweetness.

Reilly was also experimenting with another direction, a white Southern style sauce. He described that recipe as relying on mustard and vinegar, a sharp and tangy contrast to the sweeter sauce. The two approaches illustrate the variety attendees may encounter during the tasting. Instead of offering a single standard flavor profile, the participating chefs and food vendors will be able to show how differently wings can be seasoned, coated and presented. Reilly’s preparation also reflects the competitive element, with recipes being adjusted specifically for the event.

The judging panel will include Chris Koch, who is known on social media as the Tucson Wing Expert. Koch said he eats wings about once a week and has been doing so for roughly six years, making the event a natural fit for his interests. His role will be to evaluate the competitors’ entries alongside KGUN 9 reporter Vanessa Gongora, who will also serve as a judge. Their participation gives the contest both a dedicated wing enthusiast’s perspective and a local journalist’s presence, while attendees will provide their own assessment through the People’s Choice voting.

For visitors, the format combines a judged competition with a public tasting. The wing samples do not require a separate food purchase because they are included in admission to Old Tucson. Guests can try the entries, compare the different recipes and select the one they believe deserves the People’s Choice honor. That public vote gives attendees a direct role in the outcome, rather than leaving all recognition to the judges. The event also offers a chance to meet the people behind the participating food businesses and experience their cooking in a setting outside their usual locations.

Rivera said the idea grew from a desire to create a fun gathering for the Tucson community. He credited Old Tucson with agreeing to host the competition and said organizers were grateful for the opportunity to hold it there. The location provides a shared destination for vendors, judges and residents, turning what could have been a small restaurant promotion into a community event involving multiple local food businesses. For people who enjoy trying Tucson restaurants, it is also a way to sample several competitors in one visit.

Lord of the Wings will take place at Old Tucson this Saturday, August 8, from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission includes free wing samples, and attendees can vote for their favorite in the People’s Choice competition. About 10 local chefs and food vendors are expected to participate, with entries ranging from sweet heat sauces to mustard and vinegar based flavors. Koch and Gongora will be among the judges, while the public will have its own voice in selecting a favorite. Rivera said he hopes the event will bring people together, and organizers are inviting Tucson residents to come out, taste the entries and take part in the competition.