With the Super bowl coming up in less than two weeks, I thought this would be a good time to start a new feature for the blog that pairs take out favorites with wines. In these particular blogs, a selection of favorite restaurants from various locations in the South towns will be mentioned along with some of their take out gems. I will then pair them with a wine that we carry.
This week we will look at East Aurora and one of its early establishments. Run by three generations of the Holmes family, Wallenweins Hotel https://www.facebook.com/Wallenweins-Hotel is legendary in East Aurora for its old school bar that doesn’t feature stools (strictly foot up on the rail) and old wooden bar top oven -style pizza. I tasted my first “Wallys” pizza over fifty years ago and still enjoy this classic bar style. There is nothing like their loaded pizza that comes with cheese, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions (chopped, never sliced) and green olives. This and a double order of extra crispy, medium- hot chicken wings and you’re good to go. Warning: your car will smell for days, but in a good way!
When I was eight, I would pair this with a minty Birch Beer from Aurora Bottling Works, but now I opt for a no nonsense red like the 2011 Tenuta Ponte Aglianico from the Piedmont region of Italy. Currently this wine is on sale for $8.99 which fits perfectly with the pizza-wing budget. Although Aglianico is a very robust wine and requires hearty fair, this one has some Merlot in the blend that softens it up a bit and enhances the cherry notes. This wine can take an all out assault from a loaded pizza and zesty wings.
When you stop in to pick up your pizza and wings at Wallys, say “Hello” to Lance for me.