Roadtest Approved

We hosted a training in our office last week. The beginning of the training particularly caught my attention.

“How many of you watch Game of Thrones,” said Eric Slaymaker, President of Winger Bros. Management and Winger’s Franchising, Inc.

Granted, just about anything that begins with Game of Thrones (GoT) can grab my attention these days, but I needed to hear where he was going with this!

Basically, it all boils down to this idea of adaption. In GoT, you adapt or you die (or you adapt and die, but let’s not get into any major analysis here). Now, things may not be quite that drastic in the world ‘o Winger’s, but it’s a pretty good lesson, one that we’ve been trying to take to heart for a while.

There’s a big difference between the adaption on GoT and us though. We’re trying to grow and change with purpose, not just because we’re forced to, so we’ve developed this thing we like to call “the Roadtest.”

Whenever we come up with a new idea, we put it to the Roadtest to see how it fits into our particular vision for Winger’s. We ask ourselves, "Does this match what we want to do? Does it help us provide the kind of delectable comfort food and energized atmosphere we strive for?"

For example, you should start seeing new lunch menus popping up in our stores. We've been working on this lunch menu for weeks, from recipe development to menu design and food tastings (my personal favorite).

Here's a picture from one of our  item tastings for the Lunch Menu. It's a delicious way to spend the afternoon.

I can’t wait to see what you think of our take on the American Club or hear what your favorite part of the Peppercorn Turkey Wrap is. I’m excited to see our kitchens stretch their creativity with the Dang Good Daily Sandwich. Whether you're enjoying the Mahi-Mahi Salad or can't get enough of the Endless Sticky Finger Lunch, we're sure you'll agree, it's a good day to be Roadtest approved.

Twinkies for Heros

My dad has a favorite joke whenever we're in public near a family with small kids. Inevitably, the kid will do something silly, the parents will blush, and we'll all laugh. Then, it’s my dad’s cue to say something like, “enjoy it while you can,” or “just wait till you’re not the hero anymore,” and he’ll roll his eyes at me. Seriously, I've seen this particular bit over and over again since I was a teenager.

And the funny story is, he’s never stopped being my hero. He’s always been there to guide, protect, and ask how my car’s running, and for that, I’m grateful. He’s a special man, and he deserves a special Father’s Day.

This may not be the most flattering photo of my dad and I, but it perfectly encapsulates our relationship. 

I know it’s cheesy coming from me, but if he were coming into town, I would take him to Winger’s for Father’s Day. He could get wings, my mom could get salad, and we could all get a craft beer. That’s not even counting the free Fried Twinkies. All day Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15, Winger’s is giving free Fried Twinkies to dads who come in with their families to celebrate.

In case you need any more convincing, drool over this photo of Fried Twinkies for a second.

Now, I have to admit, I’m not really a restaurant dessert person. I usually eat too much and end up feeling full to the point of bursting, but Fried Twinkies are worth saving part of your meal for. They are melt-in-your-mouth decadent with a wonderfully complimentary strawberry topping. They’re perfectly indulgent, which is exactly what a dessert should be.

If I could want anything for my dad this Father’s Day, it would be that he has good food, great beer, and to know that he’s still a hero. The Twinkie tops everything off.

Ode to Sticky Finger Salad

For a place named Winger’s, it makes sense that they like chicken. Don’t get me wrong, they’re also fans of beef and pork and fish. They have a soft spot for vegetarians and vegans too. Chicken just takes them back to their roots. Whether it’s bathed in Original Amazing Sauce or is freshly hand-breaded, they can’t get enough of it.

Apparently, y’all agree. Sticky Fingers and Wings are some of the highest-selling house specialties. Winger's loves these classic meals so much that they keep trying to think of new ways to use them. Hence, the Sticky Finger Salad!

Picture, if you will, delectable Sticky Fingers on a bed of fresh, crisp lettuce surrounded by shredded cheese, tomatoes, and craisins. They like to top it off with our Homemade Ranch for an extra bit of deliciousness. This dish brings together your taste buds and their creativity to form an awesome summer meal.

In fact, summertime is when I find my inner salad person. It’s hot; I want something cool but tasty. Thank goodness I can have my Sticky Fingers on top of it. (Double dipping much?)

That’s why Winger’s has this whole Sticky Finger Salad for $7.99 promotion going around. They noticed summer is when a lot of us tend to turn into salad people, so why not make it easier for us to have our Sticky Fingers and eat them too?

I’m looking forward to a month of this delicious promotion! It runs until June 29th to give everyone a little time to find their inner summer salad.