The people choose which wings they'd fly with

By Patrick Evans-Hylton
Correspondent

VIRGINIA BEACH

TOP CLUCK

Some feathers may have gotten ruffled in the process of picking the best chicken wings in Hampton Roads, as more than a dozen area restaurants gathered at Hunt Club Farm on Sept. 12 for the annual War of the Wings - Hot Wing Contest.

Thousands of folks came out to wing it and vote in the people's choice category. There was also a critics' choice category, and your Beach Eats Chef was fortunate to be one of the judges.

Here are the first-place results:

People's Choice: Lendy's (Virginia Beach)

Best in Show: Keagan's (Newport News, Virginia Beach)

Hottest: first place - Buffalo Beach (Virginia Beach)

Most Flavorful: first place - Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar (Chesapeake, Newport News and Virginia Beach)

Most Original: Baker Street (Virginia Beach)

Best Booth: Buffalo Beach

BRUNCH'S SOUNDTRACK

Burton's Grill in the former Zinc's at Hilltop, has set its Sunday brunch to music.

The offerings from executive chef Chase Barton, including thick-cut brioche French toast, steaks and a delish crabcake benedict, are augmented with live entertainment.

Billed as an acoustic sunrise brunch, the tunes are provided courtesy of Undercurrent, a female duo of Heather Griffith and Melanie Ganz. Performances begin at 11:30 a.m. weekly.

Burton's Grill is at 741 First Colonial Road. Call 422-8970 or visit www.burtonsgrill.com.

ICING ON THE CAKE

Save room for dessert at a number of Beach restaurants because now through the end of the year, sales of cake from a local bakery will benefit an Oceanfront handicapped-accessible playground.

Priced at $6, slices of Sugar Plum Bakery's signature Red Velvet ALS Cake cap off meals at such local eateries as Atlas Grill and Bar, Catch 31, Croc's Eco Bistro, Five 01 City Grill, Mahi Mah's, No Frill Bar and Grill, Pizzeria, Rockfish, Salacia and Waterman's.

The cake is a decadent amalgamation of three layers of classic red velvet cake with two layers of New York-style cheesecake frosted in a cream cheese icing.

Proceeds benefit JT's Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground for EveryBODY located between First and Second streets at the Oceanfront and named after local Josh "JT" Thompson who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Sugar Plum Bakery promotes the integration of people with mental and physical disabilities through rehabilitative programs operating at the facility, located on Laskin Road between the Oceanfront and Hilltop.

RECIPE FOR GIVING

The annual March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction fundraiser takes some two-dozen local chefs and whips them into a tasty benefit for the healthy baby advocacy group; this year's event takes place Oct. 18 at The Founders Inn in Virginia Beach.

The auction, which is in its 16th year, gives folks a chance to sample offerings from some of the region's best-known restaurants while chefs compete for a variety of awards and recognitions.

Beach restaurants participating include: Catch 31, Eurasia, Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro, Swan Terrace, The Cellars, Salacia and TradeWinds in addition to Atlantic Shores. A full list of all restaurants and chefs can be found on the event's Web site.

Call 361-0000 or visit www.hrsigchef.com.

GOAL POST GOURMET

Beach-based Farm Fresh Supermarkets will host its annual Ultimate Farm Fresh Tailgate Gala, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in downtown Norfolk. The fundraiser features a wing and chili bar, sports lounge, cornhole competition, silent auction, tailgate food, beer and wine.

Proceeds benefit the Farm Fresh Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit group that gives back more than $1 million annually to approximately 1,500 local charities.

Call 306-2083 or visit www.farmfreshsupermarkets.com.