Live from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night, starring this week’s host, The Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern presenting the best chicken wings in Peoria! And now, from down on the waterfront in beautiful downtown Peoria, please welcome this week's host,The Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern!
Okay, old man winter has finally woken up and it’s pretty chilly out here, I finally had to break out my winter coat! At least it’s not snowing yet and it’s just a short jaunt down Water Street to The Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern and look, here we is! I love it when that happens!
As I was taking pictures outside, I ran into The Blue Duck owner, Kevan Shay! Always great to see Kevin and he said they had been slammed all day and all night with business. Looks like other people have discovered the smokey barbecue goodness down here!
Okay, let’s go inside and get warmed up! We’ll just go in the foyer and down the hallway to...
The inner sanctum of Blue Duck Barbecue! That’s Alexander and Mary at the host station and I told them I was just going to sit at the bar and they told me to head on in, so that’s just what we’re going to do!
At first I was nervous because the bar looked all filled up, but then I saw a spot down at the end and snagged it and got settled in. I saw a familiar face behind the bar as I sat down and there’s Annie, who’s been bartending here ever since the beginning. Always love to see her and there’s another familiar fellow, Ali! Everybody here is really nice and welcoming and it’s always great to see everyone!
As you can see, Kavan wasn’t fibbing about the crowd in here! I thought with Thanksgiving coming up this Thursday that there might not be a big crowd in here, but as you can see, it’s packed in here, which is a good thing, nice to see people out and about! As I made my way back to the bar I got a pictures of the taps, which you can see have a nice variety of beers on tap and there’s Ali again, with his pretty daughter Alice who also works here. It's a family affair here at Blue Duck Barbecue!
Meanwhile, back at the bar, it looks like it’s just about chicken wing time...
And as if on cue, here’s Drake with our chicken wings, which I think are the best in Peoria and you’re just about to see why...
See? How great do these look? And there’s two styles of wings here now, their original wings smoked and fried and spun in a soy ginger sauce and they now have wings spun in an Asian buffalo sauce! I got two of each flavor. I know I love the original soy ginger sauce and I’m anxious to try the new Asian buffalo wings, so let’s dig in!
These are so delicious! You can read more about them in the review below, but if you haven’t tried these wings you’re really missing out on a unique chicken wing experience here in Peoria. And I usually don’t dip my wings in sauces, but the chipotle and blue cheese sauces here are homemade and are made to compliment the wings so I dunked away and thoroughly enjoyed the wings here, and I really loved the new Asian buffalo wings. They have a kick and heat, but there’s also a great flavor that comes through.
After the wings, Kavan introduced me to Gil, who’s the kitchen manager. Great to meet Gil and I thanked both him and Kavan for the great wings and hospitality at The Blue Duck on this Saturday evening!
Wow, time flies in here, it looks like it’s time to hit the road and as I headed out the door, I remembered one valuable lesson in life and that lesson is...
Quack is wack! Thanks again to Kavan and everyone at Blue Duck for another great evening of chicken wings and hospitality, it’s always a fun evening in here! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
Chicken wings have become a staple on menus in both restaurants and bars, but sadly, a good percentage of them all kind of look and taste somewhat the same. That’s not the case at The Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern. Like everything else on the menu at this fine restaurant/tavern on Peoria’s riverfront, the chicken wings on the menu here have a unique presentation and a delicious, smokey flavor, that’s been honed and perfected by Blue Duck owner, smoke-master and Peoria’s own barbecue savant, Kavan Shay.
For starters, you get the whole wing at Blue Duck, not just a little hacked off niblet of the wing, these are the real deal. And now they have two different styles of wings to choose from. There’s the original wings, which are smoked and fried and spun in a tasty soy ginger sauce and for those that like a little more kick, they now have wings spun in an Asian buffalo sauce. Both styles are tasty, meaty, juicy and they’re smoked and then fried, which gives you a wing experience that’s unlike any other in Peoria. And the homemade sauces they serve with them compliment them perfectly. If wings are your thing, you need to try the Best in Peoria at The Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern.
The Blue Duck Tavern Barbecue Tavern
212 SW Water Street
Peoria
309-981-5801
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