Battle of Wings tops Wesley Chapel Fall Festival this weekend

Amid the mirrors, neon signs and peanut shells, the roughly 1-foot-tall trophy is almost inconspicuous at the Texas Roadhouse on State Road 56.

But the golden trophy with the chicken on top is as important among Wesley Chapel restaurants that boast of chicken wings as The Stanley Cup is to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnny White and Ed Garcia, managers at Texas Roadhouse, proudly held the trophy Thursday afternoon. The restaurant is defending the prize at this year's Wesley Chapel Fall Festival, home of the annual Battle of the Wings. The festival, which features a Business Expo, live entertainment, a crafts show, custom car show and other activities, will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdayand Sundayat The Grove at Wesley Chapel on Oakley Boulevard at Interstate 75 and State Road 54. The event is organized by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

White said experience helped Texas Roadhouse win the popular wing contest; this year's Battle of the Wings is at 2 p.m. Saturday.

"I was at another restaurant (in 2008) and we won the wing contest with a coconut jerk-type sauce," White said. "So, when I came (to Texas Roadhouse), I knew the judges liked 'em sweet and spicy, and we developed one for the competition. We even sell it here now; it's the Texan Chili sauce.

"It's definitely gotten pretty popular. It's not on the menu, but when people order wings, we tell them about it."

Garcia, who came up with the recipe, said the sauce, currently being test-marketed in other areas, could become a regular menu item.

While wing contestants don't typically engage in trash talking, White and Garcia said Saturday's contest should be hotly contested. They said their closest rivals are Santo's Pizza & Pasta and Beef O'Brady's.

Other restaurants at the festival are expected to offer everything from seafood samplers, sausage grinders and Cuban sandwiches to nachos, cheese fries and sweets such as kettle corn, frozen custard and strawberry shortcake.

Live entertainment will be featured both days including the bands Greenlight Iguana, 10th Concession, The Bucket List, Bryan Edwards, The Loopers, Ferengata, Harold Jones and Nunes at Night.

Children can play in a bounce house and other inflatables, have their faces painted and participate in interactive games. The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon club also will hold its annual pumpkin patch on site.

Ronnie Setser said he expects several hundred people to show up for the car shows alone. "It's two separate programs," said Setser, owner of Ronnie Setser's Customs in Tampa. "If you pay $15 Saturday, the Sunday show is free, so it's two days for the price of one."

He said car lovers can expect to see everything from classics to hot rods to custom-built cars to antiques.

"From late models to early models," he said. "We don't close it to any style automobile. I also have the world's largest jukebox and play music out of it. There'll be Hula-Hoop contests and dancing, and all kinds of stuff for the kids. But, there's stuff all over the festival as far as that's concerned."

gfox@tampatrib.com(813) 259-8116

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Wesley Chapel Fall FestivalWHERE: The Grove at Wesley Chapel off Oakley Boulevard and County Road 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard, west of Interstate 75WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and SundayCOST: Admission is freeINFORMATION: Visit www.wesleychapelchamber.com