WINGIN’ IT These are the best places to order up a plate of wings

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 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). 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

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

CELEBRATE National Goat Cheese Month

AT SPENKER FAMILY FARM

BY SUZANNE LEDBETTER

Did you know August is National Goat Cheese Month? While many food-related holidays are overrated, we think this one is worth celebrating! Why? Because we love all things cheese. But more importantly, because Lodi wine country is home to the region’s first creamery, and they just happen to specialize in goat cheese.

At Spenker Family Farm, the charming set of red barns beckon you onto the property where you’ll find dozens of goats, a quaint wine bar, a cheese shop, and a picnic area. The Spenker family is no stranger to farming. They opened a winery in 1994, got their dairy and creamery license in 2019, and have been churning out quality goat cheese ever since.

A true family affair, parents Chuck and Bettyann own the creamery along with their two daughters, Sarah, and Kate. When the girls went off to college, Bettyann replaced their kids with (goat) kids (yes, that’s what they are called). She was interested in cheese making and the science behind it. After all, goats are adorable animals, and it seemed like the least intimidating way to get into cheesemaking. The rest, as they say, is history.

With over 70 goats, the family makes a delicious variety of aged and fresh goat cheeses ranging from a simple chevre to the spicy Diablo sunset aged goat cheese. They are available for purchase directly from the tasting room along with fresh goat ricotta, bottled milk, and frozen yogurt.

With both a winery and creamery onsite, the opportunity for growth at Spenker Family Farm is on solid ground. The family hopes to begin hosting a series of guided farm tours followed by a wine and cheese pairing. Guests will get a behind-the-scenes peek into the process by viewing the dairy, creamery, vineyard, and winery.

Being the first commercial creamery in Lodi, the Spenkers are grateful for the support of the community and fellow wineries. "The collaborative effort of Lodi wine country is what makes Lodi so unique,” says Sarah. “Wineries are not competitors, but neighbors and friends. Our community supports each other and wants our region to be the best it can be.”

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Simply Salted Chevre served with apricot preserves, fresh peaches, and prosciutto.

• Diablo Sunset with spicy chorizo sausage on ciabatta.

• Herbs de Provence Chevre with L’Epicurien Lavender Confit Jam and wafer-thin crackers.

SPENKER FAMILY FARM

1703 N. DeVries Rd., Lodi (209) 367-0467 SpenkerWinery.com