Amuse-bouche

SUPER BOWL-WORTHY CHICKEN WINGS

Super Bowl-worthy chicken wings

More than any possible poin pread on Super Bowl Sunday, I seek the s sfac of a clean, well-lighted place, a good and a superb line-up of chick n wi n my mind’s eye, this year’s ideal game ends wi le of picked-clean bird bones and Tom Brady wee big man tears while I luxuriate on a comfy pc a bar that’s not overcrowded with other footbal a

In seeking out Santa Fe’s finest chicke I bypassed the usual sports-watching su Boxcar, Cowgirl BBQ, and Del Charro, all o w ic boast excellent wings — in favor of smaller but often less jam-packed venues. The following five spots h e either firmly established or excitingly up-and-coming wing programs. And in staking your claim to a seat at these bars, you might not have to sack your neighbor to get your beer order in.

The wings at the Betterday Dine-In in the Solana Center (907 W. Alameda St, 505-428-0876) are true to the restaurant’s spirit of made-from-scratch, ly sourced ingredients. The chicken is n-GMO, dredged in flour, cornstarch, and eep-fried for maximum crunch, and coated choice of Frank’s Red Hot (for the Buffalo), et, the peerless house barbecue or habanero sauces. Chef Andy Exell said he concocts his mphis-style, which means plenty of molasses e cola for extra sweetness, and the wings ngside the requisite celery sticks and a tangy ou de buttermilk ranch. The Solana Center offer le parking, and the mellow ’70s rec-room vibes of the Betterday make for a younger and hipper crowd than at other local sports Valhallas. Bonus points for an often unoccupied pool table, which may help speed along the dull downtime between plays. Exell also said the Betterday will take reservations for large parties. The rallying cry at Rowley Farmhouse Ales (1405 Maclovia St., 505-428-0719) is “Come for the beer, stay for the food.” The gourmet wings at the