Plenty of wings will hit the fryer, but only one contender will leave as Long Island’s Wing King.
Ryan “Wing Scout” Bliss, a local food influencer nicknamed the “Dave Portnoy of Wings” for his one-bite-style reviews, is bringing a star-powered chicken wing festival to Long Island this weekend, complete with appearances from stars of “The Sopranos.”
The inaugural Scout Fest will transform the streets outside Lindenhurst sports bar The Spread from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The large-scale event will feature a wing competition hosted by Bliss, with top local vendors battling for bragging rights as the island’s best wing makers — while hungry attendees compete for an eating title of their own.
“Long Island has some of the best wings around the country,” said Bliss, who has amassed nearly 20,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Bliss believes the region’s chicken wings have not received enough national attention. Through Scout Fest, he hopes to spotlight the home cooks and local food creators who are helping establish Long Island as a destination for exceptional wings.
More than 20 vendors will serve a range of saucy and dry-rubbed wings, including both flats and drumsticks, during Saturday’s competition. The panel of guest judges will include The Post’s Long Island food reporter Alex Mitchell.
“The Wing Scout brand is one of the hottest things on Long Island’s food scene — I’m stoked to be part of such a fantastic and feel-good story — wing it on!” said Mitchell, a Massapequa native who has covered Bliss and other local food favorites.
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Joining Mitchell on the judging panel will be Mets radio personality Keith Raad, WFAN’s Shaun Morash, comedian Mike Keegan, Chef Mike of Jackson Hall and Matt, a fellow wing critic who runs the Best Wings Long Island social media account.
The event will also welcome special guests including “Sopranos” actor Joe Gannascoli, best known for playing mobster Vito. He is scheduled to promote his new cookbook, “A Meal To Die For.”
Guests who pay the $45 admission fee can sample the same wings entered in the official competition before choosing their personal favorite at no additional cost.
For another $10, attendees can enter the wing-eating contest, with proceeds benefiting the breast cancer foundation All Boobs Matter. The winner will be crowned Long Island’s wing-eating king.
The festival will close down the block outside The Spread and offer activities including bounce houses and face painting. Bliss will also introduce his new Scout Sauce, which guests can taste and purchase during the event.
“It’s going to be massive,” Bliss said.
Tickets are available online at TheWingScout.com/ScoutFest.
