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2011 MAC Wingfest on WTLW Sports Report

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Ch 44 Sports Report 2011 MAC Wingfest Video

The Evening Leader

Wednesday, 09 March 2011

Fasching Fest Packs A Punch

By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — Area residents celebrated Fat Tuesday with food, fun and camaraderie as part of an annual event Tuesday evening.

The New Bremen Sons of the American Legion put on Fasching Fest on Tuesday for residents to indulge before the Lent season.

“It’s been pretty good,” Organizer and Sons Commander Adam Suchland said. “Everyone is enjoying themselves so far.”

The event kicked off at 4 p.m., with food starting to be served at 4:30 p.m.

“It’s a decent turnout so far,” Suchland said.

He noted the pre-sale tickets to the event.

“We sold about 75 tickets pre-sale,” Suchland said. “That’s higher than I thought.”

He noted a lot of the attendees were walk-ins.

“A lot of people I’ve seen in the past,” Suchland said. “There are a few people I haven’t seen yet.”

For $8 an adult and $6 for children, residents noshed on sausage and sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, German potato salad, mashed potatoes, bread and butter and apple and cherry strudel bites.

For those who did not come for the meal, they could enjoy the free entertainment.

“Bette is playing from 5 to 9,” Suchland said of Bette’s Polka Band, which has been a staple at the New Bremen Fasching Fest.

Suchland said the Sons have been planning Fasching Fest since December, and the Sons, approximately 15 of them, ran the event on Tuesday.

“They did the cooking, they’re serving, bartending, doing the dishes and cleaning up,” Suchland said.

He noted there were other features of Fasching Fest attendees could participate in.

“We’re having a 50/50,” he said. “We’re having a polka dance contest at 7 p.m., with prizes donated by the Southwestern Auglaize Chamber of Commerce.”

Suchland noted the event benefits both the community and the Sons.

“We do it for the community,” he said.

He added Fasching Fest gives residents an opportunity to get out of the house.

“It gives the community a chance to come out after a long winter and converse with people and get out of the house,” he said.

The Evening Leader

Monday, 05 April 2010

Wing Titles Up For Grabs

Staff photo/Mike Burkholder: Greg Elking, of the Dutch Mill Cafe in Minster, dishes up some wings during WingFest Saturday at the New Bremen American Legion. The eatery took home the Best Specialty Wing award.

By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
NEW BREMEN — Wing aficionados young and old packed the American Legion in New Bremen Saturday as part of an annual fundraiser. The fourth annual Sons of the American Legion MAC WingFest drew throngs of wing lovers to the competition that pits restaurants throughout the MAC against each other for bragging rights. The event serves as a major fundraiser for the Sons of the American Legion every year.
“It’s going pretty good,” organizer Bruce Suchland said. “We’ve gone down two vendors from last year but every vendor has learned a lot. We have a lot more varieties than we have had in the past even though we have two less vendors. Everyone is bringing everything they’ve got to try and showcase every possibility and hit everybody’s stomach the right way.”
Proceeds from the event go to a wide array of local charities, including Relay for Life and the Boy Scouts. Suchland also said there is pride on the line for the vendors.
“We invite close to 50 restaurants to come in,” Suchland said.
“The ones that do are the ones that know their wings are close to being the best in the MAC, if not the best in the MAC. Everyone of them thinks that in their mind they are the best so they come out here to prove it.”
A panel of judges each ranked the wings based upon the following five-tiered criteria: wing presentation, sauce consistency, sauce flavor, meat tenderness and meat flavor. Suchland also gave his own personal favorites when in comes to wings.
“It’s got to look good before you start,” Suchland said.
“You also don’t want any sauce running off and not sticking because you have to get it in your mouth.”
New Knoxville’s Main Street Station owners Lynn and Sue Koenig brought two of their best-selling wings to the contest. Sue Koenig said the sauces — M-sauce and Cajun sauce — were crafted by family members.
“It’s the MAC and everyone loves wings,” Sue Koenig said. “Most like sweet with a little bit of zing.”
Greg Elking, wing chief at the Dutch Mill Cafe in Minster, brought three batches of wings to the event — Spicy Gold, Spicy Bourbon Barbecue and medium. Elking said he enjoyed participating in the event because of the camaraderie.
“I like just being here, it’s not about winning or losing,” Elking said. “It’s such a great cause and it’s a lot of fun.”
The vendors were competing with each other for four awards — Hot Wing Champion, Hot Wing Runner-up, Specialty Champion and the People’s Choice award as voted by those in attendance. Cardinal Express in New Bremen took home the top award for hot wings, with Joe and Jean’s Town Tavern in Chickasaw being named the runner-up.
The Dutch Mill took home the prize for specialty wings and Winner’s Meats of Osgood was named People’s Choice award.
“I’m surprised,” said Tami Smith, assistant manager and wing chief at Cardinal Express. “I’m very honored to support the company I work for.”
Smith said the wings are a recipe she worked on for two weeks before the event.
Smith thanked those who voted for the wings and encouraged them to visit the Cardinal Express for its other offerings.
“We’ll be back next year,” Smith said. “It’s nice to say we have the best in the MAC.”
Elking also thanked the crowd for dubbing the Dutch Mill Cafe’s the best specialty wings.
“It’s such a great honor,” Elking said. “But it’s not about winning, it’s about a good cause and having fun. It’s a good time and we are happy to do it.”

The Evening Leader

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Food, Fellowship Dominate

Staff photo/Angela Weaver: Sheila Hirschfeld with Coldwell Banker South Shore serves strudel bites to New Bremen resident Ann McCollum.

By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — Area residents came out to celebrate their heritage with food and entertainment Tuesday evening as part of an annual event. The ninth annual Fasching Fest took over the New Bremen American Legion as part of a collaborative effort between the Sons of the Legion and the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce.
“Last year the chamber decided to cancel the event,” Chamber Director Scott Frey said. “Adam (Suchland) decided to pick it up and ran with it.”
The event, which was sponsored by Minster Bank and Cornerstone Rehabilitation, opened its doors at 4 p.m., with dinner of typical German fare, provided by Speedway Lanes and Howell’s IGA in New Bremen.
Frey said Suchland contacted him this year and Frey said he would help because it had originally been a Chamber event. Suchland said Fasching Fest was something he decided to pick up last year because it was an event the community seemed to enjoy.
“Because the community looks forward to this,” he said.
“It’s something to do at the end of winter. And celebrate our German roots — they want to keep their tradition going.”
Bette’s Polka Band, from Defiance, performed and attendees could participate in a polka contest for top prizes of $50, $30 and $20, as well as a 50/50 drawing.
New Bremen resident Walt Schmitmeyer said Tuesday’s event was his first time experiencing Fasching Fest.
“It’s a nice crowd,” he said. “I get to spend time with a bunch of friends.”
Because of the snow that hit the region Tuesday, Frey predicted the drive-through would be busy during the event.
“I called the radio stations here and NKTelco to get the word about it not being canceled,” Frey said, adding because of the weather, residents may want to get out of the house for the event. “The drive-through will be busy.”
Before dinner was served, the Rev. Rick Nieberding, of St. Augustine Church in Minster, gave the history of Fasching Fest, or Fat Tuesday, and gave a blessing.
“It’s a nice tradition,” Nieberding told The Evening Leader.
“It’s wonderful what they’re doing.”
Every hour, door prizes, which were donated by area businesses, were announced. Prizes included items such as gift certificates from New Bremen Massage, two free haircuts from Que’s Barbershop, six complimentary passes to the Bicycle Museum of America and a hard case lantern from Fastenal.
“I also want to thank the helpers,” Suchland said.
The volunteers included Chamber members and Sons of the Legion and family members.
Frey said the main aspect of the event is celebrating the area’s German heritage.
“You don’t have to be German to enjoy German food, that’s what I always say,” Suchland said.

New Bremen American Legion Post 241

...devotion to Mutual Helpfulness