The annual chicken wing cook-off contest, King of the Wing, completed its 13th year of family-friendly competition at Magens Bay on Saturday.
There were 35 total teams comprising the restaurant and non-restaurant divisions. Teams consisted of local businesses, organizations, and restaurants. All teams competed to create the best-flavored chicken wing in hopes of being crowned the King of the Wing, according to the press release.
Each year, the funds raised at the competition go directly to a local non-profit. This year’s proceeds will benefit the Nana Baby Children’s Home, a 501 (c)(3) organization that provides care for foster children in the Virgin Islands, the press release stated.
Since its inception in 2010, the King of the Wing competition has become a staple event in the Virgin Islands that thousands of people look forward to each year. To date, the event has raised over $700,000 for charities and has grown in size each year, the release stated.
Six expert judges had the difficult task of selecting winners. Celebrity judge Janeisha John is a TV producer and host at The Zeus Network and a recent L’Officiel Cover Girl. She flew from Los Angeles just to lend a hand with this important fundraiser. LA-based food fanatic, content creator, and social media influencer “Miso Hungry” (@misohungrry) joined the judges’ panel this year as well. She travels the world looking for new places to eat, and has finally landed on St. Thomas, it said.
Veteran DJs Dhundee and DJ Smoke returned to St. Thomas, sharing the stage with the Virgin Islands’ very own DJ Lady Mix. Event-goers were also treated to a live performance by the Award-winning hip-hop duo R. City, who presented the KOW trophies to the winning teams, according to the release.
King of the Wing is presented by Alpine Securities and White Bay Group with major event sponsorship from Heineken, Johnnie Walker, Rapier Med, and the Virgin Islands Tourism Department, along with many other sponsors and supporters, it said.
