Chicken Wing Day? Check out Rance’s favorite places

As someone who grew up in the south, I consider myself a connoisseur of wings. The location doesn’t give me any additional credibility, but in Texas … it died, fried, and set aside applies to many food options. For me, I use it to justify my wing-loving palate. No matter which restaurant I go to, if they have wings, I’m trying them out.

Since I moved to Jacksonville, I have had the opportunity to tour the entire city discovering many things. The food fits perfectly into my wheelhouse, which means I have tried many wings. Some are like my math notes from college: very forgettable. Others make me drool when I remember our epic connection.

For National Chicken Wing Day, I’ll hit you with three places that will always take me.

RELATED: Avenue Grill Named Jacksonville’s Best Fried Chicken for Second Consecutive Year

A lot of people know about V’s Pizza for, you guessed it, pizza. I love their cakes. They are light but full and full of flavor. I suggest you go with a friend and order pizza and wings. They offer some flavors: their V Signature, Calabrian and Cryin ‘Hawaiian. As I mentioned my Texas ties, I’m interested in the heat. And I’m not talking about fresh from the oven. The Calabrian is covered in Calabrian chili paste as well as Calabrian chili on top. The spice will not burn your lips like some sauces do, but you will definitely feel it on your tongue. You’ll want a cold drink to help you cool off, but you’ll enjoy the rest of your experience rather than taking advantage of the hype. Oven fired to perfection, these wings will not disappoint.

The second place I should mention is also a pizzeria. Actually, it’s also a sandwich shop. The family that launched Larry’s Giant Subs decided to open a store in Murray Hill that houses the exclusive sandwich shop with Fired Up Pizza. The pizza is amazing, but they introduced me to their Bushmaster Wood Oven Roasted Island Wings which are just … WOW! Again, baked to perfection … these wings are topped with a totally natural Peruvian sauce mixed with Caribbean seasonings and lemon pepper. The Peruvian sauce is a little sweet that balances the heat and the spices of the Jerk ram. The taste of lemon pepper traps the outside of your tongue with a beautiful acidity that makes it an almost unbeatable triumvirate of flavors. Again, I suggest bringing some friends and ordering a family style: wings, pizza, and more.

I was introduced to Mr. Chubby’s wings while meeting friends to watch the UFC. Of course, I was ordering wings because that’s what I do. Just as I was about to make that happen, my people ordered me to order the Chubby style with a side of hot sauce and a side of ranch. Basically, you get a fried wing without bursting with a spice blend that has hints of pepper that offer a nice spicy flavor that doesn’t overwhelm you. Adding that hot sauce takes a couple of notches. The ranch helps balance all the flavors, but you must find a good mix. Ranch one wing, the next no. The wings are a good size and match well with any drink.

ROUND BONUS! I know I said I’d highlight three of my favorite places, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one more. The Avenue Grill is known for its fried chicken. (In fact, he won our Jax Best contest two consecutive years.) And you really can’t enjoy fried chicken without some wings on the plate. That’s far from the only thing they serve, but it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for something to satisfy those taste buds.

Well I’ve got ridiculously hungry after writing this. I know what dinner will be tonight. Enjoy!

PS These are just a few of my favorite wingtips, but they are far from the only good wings in town. You can see other local favorites in the video clip above. So we want to hear from you. Who has the best wings in Jacksonville? Tell us where and why in the comments section.