Lemon pepper wings
{{Short description|Chicken wings dish from Atlanta, Georgia, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox food|name=Lemon pepper wings|place_of_origin=Atlanta, Georgia|associated_cuisine=Cuisine of the Southern United States|main_ingredient=Chicken, lemon pepper|course=Appetizer or main course|image=Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings.jpg|caption=A basket of lemon pepper wings}}
Lemon pepper wings are unbreaded chicken wings coated in lemon pepper seasoning. The dish was invented in Atlanta, Georgia, and is considered to be emblematic of the cuisine of Atlanta.
History
Lemon pepper wings were invented in Atlanta, Georgia, where people began adding lemon pepper to buffalo wings to reduce their spiciness.{{Cite web |last=Rocha |first=Isai |date=July 14, 2017 |title=Strip Clubs Are The Reason Atlanta Is Addicted To Lemon-Pepper Wings |url=https://www.foodbeast.com/news/atl-strip-club-wings/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040933/https://www.foodbeast.com/news/atl-strip-club-wings/ |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=July 2, 2024 |website=www.foodbeast.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Joey |date=2021-11-01 |title=Why Lemon Pepper Wings Reign Supreme in Atlanta |url=https://www.atlantaeats.com/blog/lemon-pepper-wings/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Atlanta Eats |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616042400/https://www.atlantaeats.com/blog/lemon-pepper-wings/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Kincaid |first=Adam |title=Where to get Atlanta's famous lemon pepper wet wings |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/events/food--wine/why-thrillist-and-everyone-else-loves-atlanta-lemon-pepper-wet-wings/8DamqUVcsauJPBvdYlB7OM/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |issn=1539-7459 |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616041526/https://www.ajc.com/events/food--wine/why-thrillist-and-everyone-else-loves-atlanta-lemon-pepper-wet-wings/8DamqUVcsauJPBvdYlB7OM/ |url-status=live }} The popularity of lemon pepper wings in the mid-2000s has been attributed to their being less likely to dirty clothes than buffalo wings, making them preferred by rappers who commonly wore white t-shirts at the time.{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Jacinta |date=2022-06-29 |title=How Atlanta's Hottest Strip Club Became a Chicken Wing Destination |url=https://atlanta.eater.com/23156667/magic-city-chicken-wings-best |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Eater Atlanta |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616044255/https://atlanta.eater.com/23156667/magic-city-chicken-wings-best |url-status=live }}
The dish is strongly associated with Atlanta cuisine.{{Cite web |last=Food |first=Thrillist |date=2015-12-19 |title=All 50 States, Ranked by Their Food |url=https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/every-state-ranked-by-its-food-drink |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Thrillist |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616044426/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/every-state-ranked-by-its-food-drink |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Najja |title=Food show spotlights Atlanta's lemon pepper wings |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/world/food-show-spotlights-atlanta-lemon-pepper-wings/fkbCOzmoVRyZmR8kahGnMM/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |issn=1539-7459 |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616224519/https://www.ajc.com/news/world/food-show-spotlights-atlanta-lemon-pepper-wings/fkbCOzmoVRyZmR8kahGnMM/ |url-status=live }} Future Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms commented that "Lemon pepper wings are Atlanta" in 2017. In 2022, Eric Kim of The New York Times wrote that "in Atlanta, lemon pepper is queen" and described the wings as "central to [the city's] social fabric."{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Eric |date=2022-01-12 |title=Lemon Pepper Makes Everything Better — Especially Wings |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/12/magazine/lemon-pepper-wings-recipe.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040629/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/12/magazine/lemon-pepper-wings-recipe.html |url-status=live }}
The wings have inspired various items such as lemon pepper tacos,{{Cite web |last=Hansberger |first=Angela |title=Try this taco twist on an Atlanta favorite |url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-restaurant-blog/try-this-taco-twist-on-an-atlanta-favorite/P7PW26FWAVBGHJRKEKGTL34AEQ/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Restaurant News (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |language=English |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040009/https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-restaurant-blog/try-this-taco-twist-on-an-atlanta-favorite/P7PW26FWAVBGHJRKEKGTL34AEQ/ |url-status=live }} loaded fries, pierogies,{{Cite web |last=McKibben |first=Beth |date=2022-06-24 |title=Five Lemon Pepper Wet Dishes Beyond Wings in Atlanta |url=https://atlanta.eater.com/2022/6/24/23055091/best-lemon-pepper-wet-dishes-atlanta |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040738/https://atlanta.eater.com/2022/6/24/23055091/best-lemon-pepper-wet-dishes-atlanta |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=July 2, 2024 |website=Eater Atlanta |language=en}} pizza,{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Wendell |title=Atlanta Orders In: Phew's Pies puts lemon pepper wings on pizza |url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-restaurant-blog/atlanta-orders-in-phews-pies-puts-lemon-pepper-wings-on-pizza/EJYX2SBH75FVNA2LL4U7HHT4K4/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040629/https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-restaurant-blog/atlanta-orders-in-phews-pies-puts-lemon-pepper-wings-on-pizza/EJYX2SBH75FVNA2LL4U7HHT4K4/ |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=July 2, 2024 |website=Atlanta Orders In (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |language=English}} beer,{{Cite web |date=2021-10-27 |title=Atlanta's Second Self Brewery Announces New Lemon Pepper Wet Sour Beer |url=https://www.brewbound.com/news/atlantas-second-self-brewery-announces-new-lemon-pepper-wet-sour-beer |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Brewbound |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040011/https://www.brewbound.com/news/atlantas-second-self-brewery-announces-new-lemon-pepper-wet-sour-beer |url-status=live }} and soda.{{Cite web |last=Ashford |first=D'Anna |date=2023-04-01 |title=Atlanta's Latest Soda Flavor 'Lemon Pepper Wet' Drops This Weekend |url=https://secretatlanta.co/lemon-pepper-soda-atlanta/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Secret Atlanta |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040010/https://secretatlanta.co/lemon-pepper-soda-atlanta/ |url-status=live }}
Lemon pepper wings are frequently served in the city's strip clubs.{{Cite web |last=Bainbridge |first=Julia |date=2017-07-12 |title=Atlanta's "cult of lemon pepper" |url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/dining-news/atlantas-cult-lemon-pepper/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Atlanta Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616041531/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/dining-news/atlantas-cult-lemon-pepper/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Pintavorn |first=Trisha |date=2023-02-08 |title=We Visited Atlanta's Strip Clubs to Taste Their Wings. Yes, Really. |url=https://www.atlantaeats.com/blog/strip-club-wings/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Best places to eat in Atlanta, GA {{!}} Atlanta Eats |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616042402/https://www.atlantaeats.com/blog/strip-club-wings/ |url-status=live }} Chris Kirschner of The Athletic observed that high-quality food was often a hallmark of Atlanta strip clubs, particularly wings, and their food was known to draw celebrity guests.{{Cite web |last=Kirschner |first=Chris |title='It's the magic, baby': Lou Williams was right about Magic City's wings |url=https://theathletic.com/1956558/2020/07/28/its-the-magic-baby-lou-williams-was-right-about-magic-citys-wings/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=The Athletic |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616045155/https://theathletic.com/1956558/2020/07/28/its-the-magic-baby-lou-williams-was-right-about-magic-citys-wings/ |url-status=live }} The dish is also served throughout the United States by chain restaurants.{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Ryan |date=2018-03-08 |title=Our Favorite Buffalo Wild Wings Flavors, Ranked |url=https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-buffalo-wild-wings-sauces-flavors |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614200724/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-buffalo-wild-wings-sauces-flavors |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Thrillist |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-06-21 |title=Popular Wingstop Flavors, Ranked Worst To First |url=https://www.mashed.com/442323/popular-wingstop-flavors-ranked-worst-to-first/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Mashed |language=en-US |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628022815/https://www.mashed.com/442323/popular-wingstop-flavors-ranked-worst-to-first/ |url-status=live }}
Description
The dish is prepared by roasting unbreaded chicken wings. After cooking, they are tossed in lemon pepper, a seasoning made with lemon zest and black pepper as well as other ingredients such as sugar.{{Cite web |title=Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings Recipe |url=https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022848-lemon-pepper-chicken-wings |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=NYT Cooking |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616034835/https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022848-lemon-pepper-chicken-wings |url-status=live }} Many recipes use premade lemon pepper.{{Cite news |last=Suchman |first=Scott |title=Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/lemon-pepper-chicken-wings/}}
= Lemon pepper wet =
"Lemon pepper wet" is a variation in which the wings are coated in a sauce. They may be tossed in a lemon sauce instead of a dry rub. This version of the dish was invented at the American Deli in Atlanta.{{Cite book |last=McConnell |first=Akila Sankar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xwuUDwAAQBAJ&dq=lemon+pepper+wet&pg=PA131 |title=Culinary History of Atlanta, A |date=2019 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-1-4671-4123-9 |pages=131 |language=en |access-date=July 10, 2023 |archive-date=July 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715000353/https://books.google.com/books?id=xwuUDwAAQBAJ&dq=lemon+pepper+wet&pg=PA131 |url-status=live }} Other versions of this dish involve coating the wings with butter or buffalo sauce and tossing them in dry lemon pepper seasoning.{{Cite web |title=Lemon Pepper Wings {{!}} America's Test Kitchen Recipe |url=http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/14623-lemon-pepper-wings |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=www.americastestkitchen.com |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616034843/https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/14623-lemon-pepper-wings |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Walljasper |first=Matt |date=2017-05-31 |title=If FX's Atlanta made you order J.R. Crickets's Lemon Pepper Wet wings, you're missing out on half the story |url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/dining-news/fxs-atlanta-made-order-j-r-cricketss-lemon-pepper-wet-wings-youre-missing-half-story/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Atlanta Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616040155/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/dining-news/fxs-atlanta-made-order-j-r-cricketss-lemon-pepper-wet-wings-youre-missing-half-story/ |url-status=live }}
In popular culture
Lemon pepper wings are commonly referenced in music and television related to Atlanta.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-13 |title=Atlanta is the King of Lemon Pepper Wings |url=https://www.gafollowers.com/atlanta-king-lemon-pepper-wings/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=GAFollowers |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616232241/https://www.gafollowers.com/atlanta-king-lemon-pepper-wings/ |url-status=live }} The 2 Chainz song "Hot Wings" (2018) includes the verse "She just want her 20-piece/ All flats with the lemon pepper".{{Cite news |last=McNeilly |first=Claudia |date=January 29, 2020 |title=Forget barbecue, buffalo and honey garlic. Lemon pepper wings are the best wings of all time |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/life/food/forget-barbecue-buffalo-and-honey-garlic-lemon-pepper-wings-are-the-best-wings-of-all-time |access-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-date=July 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715000355/https://nationalpost.com/life/food/forget-barbecue-buffalo-and-honey-garlic-lemon-pepper-wings-are-the-best-wings-of-all-time |url-status=live }} They are mentioned in the Drake song "Lemon Pepper Freestyle" (2021) featuring Rick Ross. Ross, who owns several Wingstop locations, has mentioned them in numerous other songs including "Buy Back the Block", "Dope Dick", "U.O.E.N.O." and "Thug Cry".{{Cite web |last=Bradley |first=Brent |date=2018-02-12 |title=Every Rick Ross "Lemon Pepper" Lyric, Ranked (An Absurdly Detailed Investigation) |url=https://djbooth.net/features/2017-01-10-every-rick-ross-lemon-pepper-lyric-ranked |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=DJBooth |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616223400/https://djbooth.net/features/2017-01-10-every-rick-ross-lemon-pepper-lyric-ranked |url-status=live }} They have also been mentioned in songs by rappers like Gucci Mane and the group Migos.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-14 |title=Let Rick Ross and Donald Glover sell you on Atlanta's lemon pepper wings |url=https://www.avclub.com/let-rick-ross-and-donald-glover-sell-you-on-atlanta-s-l-1798264033 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616232242/https://www.avclub.com/let-rick-ross-and-donald-glover-sell-you-on-atlanta-s-l-1798264033 |url-status=live }}
They appeared in the second episode of the television series Atlanta,{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Mike |date=2022-03-29 |title=We Have to Talk About the Food in the Series 'Atlanta' |url=https://atlanta.eater.com/2022/3/29/22991786/atlanta-series-food-season-three-episode-one-fried-chicken-donald-glover |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Eater Atlanta |language=en}} in which a character receives "lemon pepper wet" wings from the real life restaurant J.R. Crickets. The scene went viral on social media and popularized the dish online.{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Is Wing Town, and Lemon Pepper Is King |url=https://firstwefeast.com/eat/lemon-pepper-wings-atlanta |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=First We Feast |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616223405/https://firstwefeast.com/eat/lemon-pepper-wings-atlanta |url-status=live }} At the time, "lemon pepper wet" wings were not on the restaurant's menu although they had a similar dish called "Fester" wings which customers frequently referred to as "lemon pepper wet". The "lemon pepper wet" depicted in the show was actually inspired by a dish served at the American Deli, a different restaurant in Atlanta. Writer Stephen Glover explained that he wanted the character to be "hooked up" by receiving an item that was not on the menu at J.R. Crickets. In 2017, J.R. Crickets added "lemon pepper wet" to the menu in honor of the show.{{Cite web |last=Wicker |first=Jewel |title=J.R. Crickets adds 'lemon pepper wet' to menu after 'Atlanta' episode |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/arts-culture/crickets-adds-lemon-pepper-wet-menu-after-atlanta-episode/JMXEZg5p9wqgufRgZIMpTP/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Atlanta Living & Arts (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |language=English |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616044602/https://www.ajc.com/blog/arts-culture/crickets-adds-lemon-pepper-wet-menu-after-atlanta-episode/JMXEZg5p9wqgufRgZIMpTP/ |url-status=live }} Mike Jordan of Eater Atlanta claimed that the episode had popularized the dish.
In 2020, Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers was nicknamed "Lemon Pepper Lou" on social media when it was reported that he ordered lemon pepper wings with Jack Harlow at the Magic City strip club during a trip outside the NBA Bubble.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-11 |title=Clippers' Lou Williams trademarks 'Lemon Pepper Lou' nickname earned from his infamous strip club trip |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/clippers-lou-williams-trademarks-lemon-pepper-lou-nickname-earned-from-his-infamous-strip-club-trip/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616042400/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/clippers-lou-williams-trademarks-lemon-pepper-lou-nickname-earned-from-his-infamous-strip-club-trip/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Helin |first=Kurt |date=2020-07-26 |title=Lou Williams under investigation by NBA for activities outside bubble |url=https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/07/25/lou-williams-under-investigation-by-nba-for-activities-outside-bubble/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=ProBasketballTalk {{!}} NBC Sports |language=en-US |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622233133/https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/07/25/lou-williams-under-investigation-by-nba-for-activities-outside-bubble/ |url-status=live }} Williams was previously known for frequenting the club to purchase its wings, where the dish "Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ Wings" was named after him.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-25 |title=NBA fans had so many jokes about Lou Williams' strip club wings after trade to Atlanta |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/03/lou-williams-trade-atlanta-hawks-strip-club-wings-nba-fans-reaction |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=For The Win |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616044427/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/03/lou-williams-trade-atlanta-hawks-strip-club-wings-nba-fans-reaction |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2020-07-26 |title=What has been the biggest threat to the NBA bubble? Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ wings |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/what-has-been-the-biggest-threat-to-the-nba-bubble-louwill-lemon-pepper-bbq-wings-162237418.html |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209210628/https://sports.yahoo.com/what-has-been-the-biggest-threat-to-the-nba-bubble-louwill-lemon-pepper-bbq-wings-162237418.html |url-status=live }} He objected to the nickname but later trademarked it.{{Cite web |last=Conway |first=Tyler |title=Lou Williams Says He Was Fighting 'Goofy' Narrative About Strip Club Chicken Wings |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10042832-lou-williams-says-he-was-fighting-goofy-narrative-about-strip-club-chicken-wings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616043842/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10042832-lou-williams-says-he-was-fighting-goofy-narrative-about-strip-club-chicken-wings |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}