Randy Chandler
Buffalo wings are often served with blue cheese and celery, and this combination is said to have originated at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, in 1964. The co-owner of the bar, Teressa Bellissimo, created the famous hot-sauce-and-butter combo wings and served them with blue cheese and celery, which were sides she had available. The high-water content of the celery and the cool tang of the blue cheese complement the hot, greasy, and salty taste of the wings. Blue cheese also contains casein, a protein that helps wash away the oily capsaicin that burns your mouth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year and place of origin | 1964, Buffalo, New York |
| Inventors | Frank and Teressa Bellissimo |
| Origin story | Late-night request from their adult son, Dominic, and his friends |
| Original ingredients | Chicken wings, margarine, hot sauce, blue cheese, celery sticks |
| Complementary characteristics | Blue cheese is a coolant to combat the heat of the capsaicin on taste buds; celery has a high water content to counter the greasy, salty taste of the wings |
| Current popularity | Blue cheese is the #4 most hated food in America; ranch is the number-one choice for wings across the US |
| Local preference | Buffalo has always sworn by its blue cheese; their motto is #neverranch |
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What You'll Learn
- Dairy products like blue cheese are a natural coolant for spicy food
- The cool tang of blue cheese and the high water content of celery complement the wings
- Blue cheese and celery were the nearest available sides when the dish was first created
- Blue cheese is an iconic flavour combination with buffalo wings
- Ranch dressing is the number one choice for wings across the US
Dairy products like blue cheese are a natural coolant for spicy food
The Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, is credited with creating the famous poultry dish in 1964. Teressa Bellissimo, the co-owner, served her son Dominic and his friends some leftover chicken wings with hot sauce. To accompany the wings, she added blue cheese dressing and celery sticks, which were leftover sides from making an antipasto salad. The blue cheese and celery combination provided a complementary contrast to the spicy, greasy, and salty wings, making the dish more balanced and palatable.
The high water content in celery and the cool, tangy flavour of blue cheese helped to temper the heat of the wings, creating a more harmonious dining experience. This accidental pairing has since become iconic, with Buffalo wings and blue cheese considered a classic flavour combination akin to hot dogs and mustard or peanut butter and jelly.
While ranch dressing, a buttermilk and mayonnaise-based dip, has gained popularity as a side for Buffalo wings across the United States, blue cheese remains the preferred choice in Buffalo. The Buffalo History Museum's research supports this, showing that Buffalo has consistently served blue cheese with its wings, even as other parts of the country have embraced ranch dressing.
The debate between blue cheese and ranch dressing preferences continues, with surveys indicating varying preferences across different age groups and regions. Ultimately, the choice of dairy product to pair with spicy Buffalo wings is a matter of personal preference, with some opting for the traditional blue cheese and others favouring the creamy ranch dressing.
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The cool tang of blue cheese and the high water content of celery complement the wings
The combination of blue cheese and celery with Buffalo wings is iconic. It is said that the Buffalo wing was invented in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, by co-owner Teressa Bellissimo. The story goes that she threw together some leftover chicken wings with margarine and hot sauce to feed her son Dominic and his friends. The wings were so popular that they became a menu item the very next day, served with blue cheese and celery sticks—the nearest available sides.
The Anchor Bar menu from the mid-1960s, which featured the original Buffalo wings, also included an appetizer of blue cheese-stuffed celery. This combination of flavours and textures proved to be a happy accident. The cool, tangy blue cheese and the crisp, high-water-content celery complement the hot, greasy, salty wings, creating a balanced dish. The dairy in the blue cheese also helps to combat the heat of the capsaicin in the hot sauce, providing a natural coolant for the palate.
While blue cheese is the traditional side for Buffalo wings, it is not the most popular choice across the US. Surveys show that ranch dressing is the number-one choice for wings nationwide, with 71% of people under 30 preferring it over other options. However, Buffalo has always sworn by its blue cheese, and the combination has become an iconic flavour pairing, like hot dogs and mustard or peanut butter and jelly.
The cool, tangy flavour of blue cheese and the crisp, hydrating quality of celery help to balance the richness of the wings, creating a more complete and satisfying dish. The contrast of temperatures and flavours enhances the dining experience, keeping the palate refreshed between bites of juicy, crispy Buffalo wings.
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Blue cheese and celery were the nearest available sides when the dish was first created
The famous Buffalo wings were invented in 1964 in Buffalo, New York, at a tavern called the Anchor Bar. Co-owner Teressa Bellissimo created the wings using leftover chicken wings, frying them up and covering them in hot sauce to feed her son Dominic and his friends. The wings were so popular that they became a menu item the very next day.
The Anchor Bar served the wings with blue cheese and celery, and this combination has stuck ever since. It is said that Teressa Bellissimo served the wings with these sides simply because they were the nearest available options—the leftovers she had to hand at the bar. She had some house blue cheese dressing and celery sticks left over from making an antipasto salad.
The blue cheese and celery combination has proven to be a very complementary pairing to the wings. The high water content of the celery and the cool tang of the blue cheese complement the hot, greasy, and salty taste of the wings, keeping them from being too heavy. Dairy products are a natural coolant to combat the heat of the capsaicin on your taste buds, and blue cheese contains sour cream and sometimes milk.
Blue cheese stuffed celery also appeared on a mid-1960s Anchor Bar menu, around the same time that Bellissimo first created the wings. This further supports the idea that blue cheese and celery were the nearest available sides when the dish was first created.
While ranch dressing has become the preferred side for many U.S. wing restaurants, Buffalo has always stuck by its blue cheese. The city's motto is even "#neverranch".
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Blue cheese is an iconic flavour combination with buffalo wings
The Buffalo History Museum uncovered evidence that may explain why The Anchor Bar initially served blue cheese with its wings. An appetizer called blue cheese-stuffed celery appeared on a mid-1960s menu, indicating that the combination may have already been popular in the region. Blue cheese has also been a traditional side dish in Buffalo for decades, even as ranch dressing has gained popularity in other parts of the United States.
The dairy products in blue cheese, such as sour cream and milk, act as a natural coolant to counteract the heat of capsaicin on the taste buds, making it a perfect pairing for spicy buffalo wings. While some people may not enjoy blue cheese, its unique flavour and texture make it an iconic and complementary side dish for buffalo wings.
Although blue cheese is a classic choice, ranch dressing has become the preferred side for many wing enthusiasts across the United States. Ranch dressing, made from buttermilk and mayonnaise, provides a smooth and creamy texture that cools down spicy wings. However, in Buffalo, ordering ranch dressing with wings is almost taboo, with the motto "#neverranch".
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Ranch dressing is the number one choice for wings across the US
While blue cheese is the traditional choice to accompany "Buffalo-style" wings, ranch dressing has become the number one choice for wings across the US. In fact, according to most surveys, 71% of people under 30 prefer ranch on their wings, dropping to 55% in the 35-54 age bracket. GrubHub conducted a Twitter survey and found that 59% of responders preferred ranch, while another popular survey of 3,100 Americans discovered that 43% preferred ranch and only 30% blue cheese.
Ranch is a popular choice for wings as it is creamy, herby, and versatile, complementing the spice of the wings. It is also a popular dip for veggies and a welcome addition to pizza. It should strike the perfect balance of sweetness, tartness, and saltiness. There are many options for store-bought ranch, and it can even be made at home.
Despite ranch's popularity across the US, blue cheese remains the number one choice in Buffalo, New York, where the "Buffalo-style" wing originated. Frank and Teressa Bellissimo first served their famous wings with blue cheese at the Anchor Bar in 1964. Blue cheese is a natural coolant to combat the heat of the capsaicin on your taste buds. It also has become an iconic flavor combination, like hot dogs and mustard, or peanut butter and jelly.
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Frequently asked questions
Buffalo wings are served with blue cheese because it helps to cool your mouth down if you're sensitive to spicy food. Blue cheese contains a protein called casein, which acts as a detergent that washes away the oily capsaicin that burns your mouth.
The high water content of celery, which is also often served with buffalo wings, and the cool tang of blue cheese complement the hot, greasy, and salty taste of the wings, keeping them from being too heavy.
In 1964, in Buffalo, New York, Teressa Bellissimo served wings with hot sauce and butter to her son and his friends. She garnished the wings with blue cheese and celery, which were sides she had available. The combination became popular, and blue cheese continues to be served with buffalo wings today.
Ranch dressing is a popular alternative to blue cheese, especially for people under 30. However, in Buffalo, ordering ranch dressing with wings may cause controversy.
To make a blue cheese dip, mix blue cheese with sour cream until smooth and add other ingredients to taste. You can use milk to adjust the consistency.
