WACO's Wingfest Awards JL's Pizza & Sports the Thighsman Trophy
A record crowd watched as JL's Pizza and Sports won the Thighsman Trophy at WACO's 17th Annual Wingfest. The wings at the Palatine restaurant were named Best of the 'Burbs, beating out the completion from 14 other restaurants.
The Woodfield Area Children's Organization raised thousands of dollars at the event, on July 30 at Drink in Schaumburg. The proceeds will help fund WACO, when the nonprofit takes more than 500 impoverished preschoolers Christmas shopping for themselves and their families in December.
Last year's Thighsman Trophy winner, Sweet Caroline's and The Hideout placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson, Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod, Weber Grill Executive Chef Dustin Green, Schaumburg Rotarian Kent Welch and Daily Herald Columnist Eric Peterson were among this year's judges in the blind taste test that determined which restaurant has the best wings in the suburbs.
The title of Lord of the Wings went to David Sanchez, after he won the men's eating contest; while Cara Banuelos took home honors for the women's eating contest.
Wingfest guests voted to award the People's Choice Award to JL's Pizza & Sports, followed by Neighborhood Inn and Harold's Chicken Shack. The guests decided Tap House Grill had the best creative wings. The jointly owned Rack House Tavern and Kinfork BBQ & Tap took home first place for both best hot and best BBQ wings. And the crowd decided Harold's Chicken Shack had the best mild wings.
Honorable mention went to Adobe Gila's, The Assembly, GameWorks, Garsillo's Italian Bar & Grill, The Hideout, Moretti's, Neighborhood Inn, Real Time Sports Bar, Rosati's on Wise and Sweet Caroline's.
The Thighsman Trophy will be on display at JL's until WACO's 18th Annual Wingfest, set to take place on Sunday, July 29, 2018.
Wingfest was sponsored by Miller-Coors, Action Fence, Daily Herald Media Group, Schaumburg Toyota, Patrick Dealer Group, Chandler's Chophouse, Chiro One and Topgolf.
WACO is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving disadvantaged children in the northwest and western suburbs since 1979. For more information, visit www.waco4kids.org.