cravings
SMITTY’S WINGS & THINGS
If someone knows football, it’s former NFL player and owner of Smitty’s Wings & Things, Steve Smith. The sauces at Smitty’s were dreamed up by him and his teammate—his wife Jaime Smith. And while you can choose from homemade sauces such as Garlic Chile and Thai Sweet and Sour, Jamie’s favorite player is Damn Hot, likened to a mole sauce and bursting with flavors of chilies, garlic, and cilantro, with a lingering heat. 5654 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton, (209) 227-7479, SmittysWingsAndThings.com
FIRE WINGS
When it comes to wing menus, Fire Wings has a lot of variety, featuring sauced wings, dry rubs, and fusions that combine both. Stick to the classics such as Original BBQ and Original Buffalo or get funky with it. It’s hard to explain the flavor that goes into something called a Peanut Butter wing, but we urge you not to skip the experience. With a subtle hint of peanut butter flavor that’s slick, not sticky, and heat that is present but bearable (ranked a one flame option, on a scale of 0-3), this flavor combination will have you performing your best touchdown dance. 1379 S. Lower Sacramento Rd., #501, Lodi, (209) 248-8044, FireWings.com
PORTER’S PUB
WINGING IT’
FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BY NORA HESTON TARTE / D SMITTY’S WINGS & THINGS Sundays are back! Pre-season kicks off this month and that means we’re plunking down in front of the television with our best friends and best snacks to enjoy endless hours of rugged fun. Whether you came for the game or for the food, football season is never complete without wings. Traditional bone-in, boneless, or even tenders, there are plenty of variations on this
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delicious dish served locally, which means you won’t have to repeat play combos throughout the season (unless you want to). Order up a batch of your first-round picks for a fantasy football draft party or call an audible for the halftime show—we’ve rounded up some of the best flavors from favorite local wing hotspots (based on reader’s votes).
AUGUST 2021 | SANJOAQUINMAGAZINE.COM
Choose between watching the game at the bar or grabbing your grub and booking it back home. Porter’s Pub serves up some creative flavors like Korean Pepper and Honey Garlic, plus dry rubs of Lemon Pepper and Chili Lime. If you’re asking owner Shae Porter for a recommendation, however, she’ll steer you toward the Sweet Thai Chili, a mouthwatering sauce that errs on the mild side, mostly sweet with just a little kick. 121 S. School St., Lodi, (209) 400-7147, PortersPubLodiCA.com
