Crystal Restaurant Prepares for Chicken Wing Onslaught
There are few things in life that bring people together like food. Just ask Charlene Freeman, general manager of Milton’s restaurant in Crystal.
“People may not understand each other, being language or being from different cultures, but people understand food, and people understand chicken,” Freeman said.
That’s right, she said chicken.
The wings happen to be a Milton’s specialty. Which is why Freeman says it’s the top selling item on their menu.
“It’s a traditional, really good, fried wing,” she said. “It’s got a dry rub on there. Put in some buttermilk and then they’re tossed in the fryer and they’re lightly breaded with Japanese bread crumbs and a little bit of flour.”
Super Bowl Synonymous with Chicken Wings
This weekend, the kitchen staff will be cooking up a storm to prepare for the onslaught of chicken-loving customers on Super Bowl Sunday.
According to the National Chicken Council, Americans will eat 1.38 billion wings on Super Bowl Sunday. That’s enough to circle the earth three times.
“Honestly, that seems kind of low,” Freeman said.
Either way, when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, Americans will eat a plethora of poultry.
“Two years ago, we did about 57 orders,” Freeman said. “Last year, I did about 87 orders. So it almost doubled.”
By the way, Milton’s isn’t even open on Sundays.
“Because we’re not open on Sundays, we are opening up for a short amount of time for people to come and pick up,” Freeman said. “So it’s a pre-order and pre-pay.”
It’s a matter of giving the people want they want, and on the day of America’s biggest sporting event, it’s clear that we have a hearty appetite for the flavorful fowl.
“Worst-case scenario, if we have to go get some more, we’re gonna go get some more,” Freeman said.
Meanwhile, there’s an online petition at Change.org to make the Monday after the Super Bowl a federal holiday and call it ‘National Chicken Wing Appreciation Day.’
