On The Wings Of Love: The Peanut Bar

  This weekend myself and fellow Wing Nutz decided to take a little road trip over to Kansas City and visit the city's oldest bar - The Peanut.   During the prohibition period The Peanut existed as a "speakeasy".  The term means exactly that - speak easy as in not to let neighbors and police know we are here and what we are up to doing.  Speakeasys existed in neighborhoods during the prohibition and served moonshine and other illegal brews.  Sometimes these places were referred to as a "blind pig" or a "blind tiger".  One way to circumvent the law was to invite people into a place where they paid an admission to see an animal attraction of sort and then was rewarded with a drink.  That explains the animal connection.  I believe the "blind" reference is directly related to the results from drinking the really poor quality swill that sometimes was switched out for higher quality hooch in bootlegging shenanigans.  Today The Peanut boasts 5 locations in the KC metro area.  And no one you meet that has experienced The Peanut speaks easy about their experience.  They shout their praises to anyone and everyone who will listen.

I am told The Peanut has an actual menu, but I have never read it.  Supposedly they have hamburgers, fries, nachos and other food items you would expect served at any neighborhood bar and grill, but I have never witnessed anyone eat them.  The one thing they are most famous for, the one thing that drove our desire to trek all the way there from Lawrence on a Saturday night, are the wings; their glorious, full wings. 

You probably noticed in the picture that they serve full wings; no drumettes or wingettes here, just big, healthy full size wings.  You can order them by the half dozen or full dozen.  They make them fresh to order so you need to allow about 20 minutes or so.  Trust me when I say they are worth the wait.  When they come they come piled high drenched in their special sauce and the aroma absolutely tingles your nostril hairs and your mouth begins watering almost uncontrollably.

And THAT is how happy you will look too when your order of wings come to you!  That's our friends and two of my fellow Wing Nutz Al and Nancee taking in their first ever batch of wings at The Peanut.  I saw them later the next day and they still had that expression of sheer joy and delight on their faces. 

The sauce is supposedly a brand sauce used as a base that they doctor up. It is a perfect heat for everyone.  The crunchy texture of the skin and tenderness of the meat inside is superb.  And the blue cheese dressing served on the side is thick and well blended, but not that you need it.  Nor do you need celery or carrots that you are accustomed to accompanying wings to help tame the fire.  These wings really are just fine all by their lonesome.  

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And THIS is how you will look after finishing two dozen of these wonderful wings!  She is a true wing nut. 

So there you have it.  If you are wondering if we are scoring these the answer is no.  Our TourWing of 2013 is just for Lawrence (for now).  However, if we were scoring these they would soar above and beyond all others we have sampled thus far - just sayin'. 

Here's information on The Peanut and how to find the one nearest to you.  No one should die before trying them!  http://www.peanutkc.com/  And if you are wondering this whole time why they are called The Peanut, I still have no idea. 

Get to winging it people!