So, being tasked with seeking out the best wings in the city for Food Bloggers of Canada’s monthly restaurant roundup was quite the challenge. I’m not quite sure why but I rarely crave wings. Like ever. Sure, I’ve had some good wings in my day like the spicy red curry wings our pal Ian whipped up for us in New Zealand and honestly fried chicken of any variety is delicious. Still it’s the last thing I think to order. Needless to say I had no idea where the best wings in the city were and not about to scour the city in search of them.

Nothing else to do but call in the reinforcements. 

In this case there was but one person to call, the Halifax Wingman. Yes, he exists and his sole purpose, his pièce de résistance is doing just that, finding the best damn wings around. Judging by his blog where he was scored over 70 wings, he takes this task rather seriously. 

Lucky for me, The Wingman and his lovely lady were kind enough to meet me to chat all things wings. So here we are, his number one spot, Wingdings. (I should mention, however, that his previous number one, the Pogue Fado, has since closed up shop.)

Tucked away in Cole Harbour on the Forrest Hills Parkway, the recently opened (March I think) Wingdings certainly gives the franchise first impression though that is in no way a bad thing. The restaurant is on the small side with some personal touches, the obligatory ‘wall of flame’, a couple of TVs and a relaxed atmosphere. When I find out that wingding means a lavish or lively party or celebration it all makes sense. The owner, Jerry Thibeault soon recognizes the infamous Wingman and comes to say hi. He’s super nice and and a local, making it all the more sweet that I’m writing this review. 

The menu includes much more than wings from the Newfie poutine to a selection of wraps to salads but the real stars are obviously the wings. Available regular, naked, and boneless, there’s well over 100 sauces and rubs to choose from. What a decision that was. I’m a look at the menu before you go kind of gal so this was no easy task. Luckily, my guests had patience. 

I loved the option for dry rubs so I opted for a rub of Jamaican Jerk with a smokey maple sauce on the side. I gotta say, these wings were great. Crunchy exterior, juicy interior. I’m amazed at myself for pretty much cleaning those bones dry, a real stray from the norm. The 2 chile spice rated Jamaican Jerk was delicious yet not very spicy. Then again, I’ve been upping my spice game lately so perhaps my palate has adjusted. The sauce wasn’t my favorite, with a rather odd aftertaste perhaps from a little too much liquid smoke, but hell there’s 99 more to choose from. I certainly wouldn’t let that deter me from a second visit and, with Brent a tad jealous of my ‘date’, a return visit is already in order. 

The Wingman also opted for the dry rub, sauce on the side action: roasted garlic pepper with Frank’s honey mustard. With nothing but a pile of bare bones left, I’d say he enjoyed them. 

Apparently the wings are a tad pricier here, though at $12.99/lb, they’re only a buck more expensive than the current Coast ‘Best Chicken Wings’ title holder, Bubba Rays. Plus, wing night Wednesday will get ’em to you a buck cheaper. With Wingdings recruiting more and more fans and the infamous Wingman on their side, no doubt they’ll give the current champ a run for their money. 

If you’re looking to get in on the wing game, head on over to the Wingman’s blog. He even has a listing of all the wing nights in the city. Your game day just got more exciting. 

The post DINE | In search of the best wings in the city: Wingdings appeared first on eathalifax.

I don’t know about you but when I close my eyes and envision what fresh means to me, I’m immediately transported to a hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant where cilantro, fish sauce and cold vermicelli noodles reign supreme. Aren’t the best ethnic restaurants always tucked away in strip malls? Well, they are here. 

If you have yet to be acquainted with Vietnamese cuisine, let me introduce you. Five tastes make up the Vietnamese palate: spicy, sour, bitter, salty, sweet with common ingredients including fish sauce, shrimp paste, lemongrass, basil, cilantro, star anise, chilli peppers, Saigon cinnamon, lime, ginger, vegetables, rice, and noodles. Sounds amazing right. Vietnamese cuisine is all about fresh herbs and vegetables plus the use of broth instead of oil, making it one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. No joke.

The first vietnamese dish I fell in love with back in my university days was vermicelli noodles with spring rolls, quite the original title. It starts with cucumber, lettuce, and bean sprouts hidden under a mountain of cold vermicelli noodles then topped with warm sliced spring rolls. The accompanying nuoc cham, a sweetened fish sauce, ties it all together. It was warm and cold and salty and sweet and fresh all at once. I was instantly addicted.

There are several Vietnamese restaurants in town to get your Vietnamese fix including one on our side of the harbour in Dartmouth, Pho Hoang Minh. We’ve been hitting it up for years and I even hear of folks actually crossing the harbour to eat there. And for you folks not familiar with our twin cities, crossing the bridge to dine in Dartmouth is a big deal. Folks don’t just cross the bridge for nothing.

 While everything on the menu isn’t my favourite of Vietnamese dishes, it’s become our go to. So, even though the salad rolls (fresh spring rolls) are unfortunate bundles of mostly noodles, lettuce, shrimp, and a sad shaving of dry pork rather than the fixings of vermicelli, lettuce, cucumber, carrots, cilantro, and mint that I prefer, Pho Hoang Minh still satisfies. At the heart of that satisfaction is the infamous #15. 

For years, I’d been ordering the same vermicelli with spring rolls until one day good ol’ instagram showed me the error of my ways. The #15 has since changed my Vietnamese cravings forever. It’s like a noodle bowl on crack. The usual suspects are present but then things get all crazy with crushed peanuts, green onions, pickled carrots and daikon and the most incredible sweet grilled pork. Now, I can’t imagine ordering any thing else. I’ve even gushed about it to my cooking class after serving up tofu salad rolls and cilantro infused Jasmine rice. I’m happy to report many of them are now on the Pho Hoang Minh train. Hop on, it’s a delicious ride. 

If you’ve got a hankering for some Chinese, they’ll hook you up with that too. But don’t expect stellar service folks. This place is the no-nonsense kind of place where you order, get your food, and that’s pretty much it. With almost a packed house every time we visit, it looks like the Dark Side folks could care less. It probably has something to do with the fact that its mad cheap. That big plate of Chinese food Brent demolished was a mere $8.25. Mine, $8.50. Ridiculous I know.  

The post DINE | getting fresh at Pho Hoang Minh appeared first on eathalifax.