SHEBOYGAN – As Labor Day weekend festivities came to a close in Buffalo, New York, one local restaurant once again captured the spotlight. Legend Larry’s, a favorite in Wisconsin and beyond, secured its place at the pinnacle of the wing world, earning three national awards at the National Buffalo Wing Festival.
Competing against a diverse and roster of 22 other restaurants from the United States and abroad, Legend Larry’s had a strong showing. Their Scary Larry sauce, known for its tongue-tingling heat, clinched First place in the Traditional Hot Wing competition. The savory Bacon BBQ sauce followed suit, netting second place in the Traditional BBQ Wing Competition, while their hallmark Medium sauce snagged third in the Traditional Medium Wing category.
Yet the real story lies in the legacy that Larry’s is crafting. Despite a hiatus from the festival since 2018, these latest accolades bring the total count to a staggering 31 national awards for the wing specialists. Notably, this achievement christens Legend Larry’s as the most awarded restaurant in the festival’s 22-year history.
“Returning to Buffalo after half a decade and standing out among the best is truly humbling,” remarked Larry Schaefer, the founder of Legend Larry’s. “Every award just shows how much we care about making really good wings and sauces. While these awards are a great win for Legend Larry’s, we also see them as a win for the culinary spirit of Wisconsin.”
The festival itself, held at Highmark Stadium, home to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, has grown into an international sensation. For over a decade, an average of 45,000+ attendees, hailing from all 50 states and 44 different countries, have flocked to the event. Beyond the culinary battle, attendees were treated to live music, a baby wing pageant, wing eating contests, and a celebrity influencer sauce-off competition. However, the highlight remained the United States Buffalo Wing Eating Championship, where Australian James Webb clinched the title by devouring an astonishing 276 wings in just 12 minutes.
From its inception, Schaefer knew he was onto something special. The validation received from the buffalo wing capital played a pivotal role in Legend Larry’s rapid growth and success in Wisconsin. Winning both Best Traditional Hot Wing and Best Traditional Medium Wing during his first national competition debut in 2005, Schaefer’s recipes quickly carved out a space in the hearts of wing aficionados around the nation.
Legend Larry’s has grown to four locations scattered throughout Wisconsin, including Green Bay, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, and Manitowoc. You can find their award winning sauces in many regional grocery stores, and many Wisconsin restaurants, recognizing the allure of Larry’s award-winning concoctions, have incorporated Legend Larry’s sauces into their own menus. Boasting a full lineup of distinct flavors, from the mellow Garlic Parmesan to the fiery D.O.A. (“Dead on Arrival”), Legend Larry’s ensures there’s a tantalizing taste for every palate.
To learn more about Legend Larry’s, visit their website at www.legendlarry.com or drop by any of their four Wisconsin locations.
