24K gold chicken wings are NYC’s latest weird food craze | CNN (2024)

CNN

Twenty-four karat gold is normally something associated with jewelry – until now. New York City restaurant The Ainsworth partnered with Jonathan “Foodgōd” Cheban on the ultimate high-low menu item, 24K gold chicken wings.

Here’s how the food magic happens: wings are brined for 12 hours (one half-hour per karat), coated with a house-made dry rub, baked, flash-fried and then coated in a layer of gold dust.

Despite the luxurious luster, these wings won’t break the bank: you can get 10 for $45 or 20 for $90.

If you feel like splurging, there’s also an option to get 50 – plus a bottle of Ace of Spades brand Champagne – for a cool $1,000. That grand also includes a bit of celebrity connection, as Ace of Spades is owned by Jay-Z.

But there’s one more question to ask: Why?

Brian Mazza, president of Paige Hospitality (which owns The Ainsworth) told CNN, “We wanted to create something over-the-top that’s never been done before, and you’ve never seen or tasted anything like it before.” Consider that a mission accomplished.

For NYC visitors who want to get their Instagrammable wings fix and also experience some of NYC’s hidden food gems beyond Manhattan, consider a side trip to the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue, a haven of Italian grocery stores and cheese shops, as well.

The Ainsworth Chelsea, 122 W 26th St, New York, NY 10001, USA, +1 212-741-0645

The Ainsworth East Village, 64 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA, +1 212-419-1151

24K gold chicken wings are NYC’s latest weird food craze | CNN (2024)

FAQs

24K gold chicken wings are NYC’s latest weird food craze | CNN? ›

Here's how the food magic happens: wings are brined for 12 hours (one half-hour per karat), coated with a house-made dry rub, baked, flash-fried and then coated in a layer of gold dust. Despite the luxurious luster, these wings won't break the bank: you can get 10 for $45 or 20 for $90.

What does 24 karat wings taste like? ›

So, what do the gilded chicken wings actually taste like? The flavor of the chicken wings' exterior isn't nearly as intense as you'd expect to find with a traditional buffalo or barbecue sauce, but there's a pleasant sweetness that comes forth once you get passed the surreality of eating so much gold.

Who started the chicken wing craze? ›

But the concept of cooking wings in peppery hot sauce was born in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, when co-owner Teressa Bellissimo cooked leftover wings in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son and his friends. The guys liked them so much that the Bellissimos put them on the menu the next day.

What is 24k gold wing sauce? ›

Combine Frank's® RedHot® Buffalo Wings Sauce and Cattlemen's® Carolina Tangy Gold™ BBQ Sauce. Warm. For each serving, deep-fry 1 pound wings in 350°F oil until cooked through and crispy, typically 10- 12 minutes. Drain well and toss with 1/3 cup of sauce.

What flavor are gold wings? ›

A unique combination of Cattlemen's® Carolina Tangy Gold™ BBQ Sauce, apple juice, and butter make for some lip-smackin' good wings.

Is 24K gold food real? ›

Lower purity than 24 karat gold leaf will inevitably have impurities. For this reason, edible gold is often purer than even the most expensive jewellery. Despite this, though gold leaf ranging from 22 to 24 karat is considered safe to consume. However, any lower purity may not be safe to consume.

How much do 24K gold wings cost? ›

Despite the luxurious luster, these wings won't break the bank: you can get 10 for $45 or 20 for $90. If you feel like splurging, there's also an option to get 50 – plus a bottle of Ace of Spades brand Champagne – for a cool $1,000.

Who invented gold chicken wings? ›

The golden hot wings cost forty-five dollars for ten or ninety dollars for twenty, or you can drop a thousand dollars for a pile of fifty plus an aureate bottle of Armand de Brignac champagne. The creative force behind this intestinal El Dorado is Jonathan Cheban, an erstwhile P.R.

Where did Coca Cola chicken wings come from? ›

According to one, a cook in Jinan, Shandong accidentally tipped over a can of Coca-Cola into a pot of braised chicken wings. He discovered the unique taste of cola with chicken and soy sauce, and soon it became popular. In another story, cola chicken was already made in Western countries with tomato sauce.

What animal are Buffalo wings from? ›

Chicken. The chicken wings used for Buffalo wings are usually segmented into three parts: drumette, flat, and flapper or pointer, the last of which is usually discarded, although some restaurants serve them with this latter part still connected to the flat.

What does 24K gold taste like? ›

All available varieties, from crumbs and powder to flakes and culinary gold leaf, have no taste. They are biologically inert, odorless and undetectable to the palate.

What flavor is 24 karat gold? ›

Gold is not soluble in water (saliva) therefore it cannot bind to any of the taste receptor on your tongue. It has no 'taste', for a small proof, it should be cheap enough to buy a 24K gold leaf from a confectionary store and test it for yourself. It is just pretentious to put gold leaf on food and stuff.

Does Dollar Tree have wing sauce? ›

Louisiana Supreme Buffalo Chicken Wing Sauce, 17-oz.

What wing flavor is moon dust? ›

The Moon Dust dry rub is liberally applied after the wings are fried, but the spice blend is subtle — a hint of citrus and other flavors that come together in a nice, savory taste. “It's a spice blend like Old Bay,” Kim said, “but Old Bay has a heavier taste and this is much lighter.”

What flavor is liquid gold wings? ›

Gold is a unique combo of honey mustard and hickory. BBQ. It's a flavor that's sweet with no heat!

Do gold wings have heat? ›

Part of riding a bike is enjoying the elements. But nobody likes being cold. That's why every 2024 Gold Wing comes equipped with electric heated grips as standard equipment.

What does 24 karat gold taste like? ›

4. What Does It Taste Like? Pure 24 karat gold itself is virtually tasteless and odorless.

Is 24 karat gold hard or soft? ›

The 24 karat gold is more expensive than 22 or 18 Karat gold. It is soft and pliable and that's why not used in making regular forms of jewellery. The 24K gold is used to make coins, bars and is also used in electronics and medical devices.

What does 24K gold feel like? ›

Pure gold is very soft and not suitable for everyday wear. It is the most malleable and ductile of all elements, so it is easily bent, scratched, and reshaped. Pure gold does not offer a secure setting for gemstones and is quite heavy, so would be uncomfortable to wear.

What does melted gold taste like? ›

Edible gold has a faint metallic flavor when tasted completely on its own.

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