South Florida’s best burger chef is taking on the wings scene at the South Florida Wing Bash, and he’s bringing a secret ingredient – simplicity. Jeffrey Lemmerman, the mastermind behind Cheffrey Eats food truck and a past winner of the People’s Choice Award at Boca Burger Battle, is competing in the annual event on Saturday, July 12, at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. Lemmerman, known for his inventive burgers like the Barnyard Burger – a patty stacked with a fried chicken breast and bacon – has a surprising passion for chicken wings. "Man, they’re just satisfying. I love ’em," he says. His approach to wing preparation reflects this love, prioritizing natural flavor and moisture. He believes that par-cooking wings, a common restaurant practice, robs them of valuable moisture. "I hate breaded wings for similar reasons," he explains. He favors a "naked" wing approach, finishing them directly in a fryer.

For the South Florida Wing Bash, he’ll be using a "secret sauce" specifically created for the event. The goal is to win, and if he’s going to be a good chef and make his favorite meal, it’s going to be really good, estimating he’ll serve more than 2,000 wings. The third annual South Florida Wing Bash will feature more than 20 chefs vying for supremacy, including Windy City Pizza, Indulge BBQ, Earl’s Slow and Low BBQ, Atomic Biscuit, Brass Rooster Wing Factory, Joe’s Backyard Smokehouse and TJ’s Southern Kitchen. Guests at the 21-and-older event will find unlimited wings, beers, seltzers and spirits, as well as live music, ax throwing and a golf simulator. Tickets start at $59.99+ for admission from 7 to 10 p.m.

VIP tickets cost $79.99+ for entry at 6 p.m. (Ticket prices are set to increase by $5 after Saturday, July 5, according to the official event website.) Lemmerman’s favorite wings come from two local spots: 40 Flavors Wings & More in Lake Worth and Thirsty Turtle Seagrill in Juno Beach. Thirsty Turtle won South Florida Wing Bash in 2023 with a wing adorned only with Buffalo sauce and a side of house-made blue cheese. Lemmerman was a judge and gave it his vote. "It was the perfect wing. It was exactly what I would want if I was sitting in front of a game with friends and just wanted to eat a platter of wings," he says. "There were a lot of other fancy wings, creative wings, but for me, choosing a winner, it came down to: What do I want a big plate of? It was Thirsty Turtle, hands down."

The communal ritual surrounding a platter of chicken wings – be it on game day or on a date – is another appealing feature. "I feel like they break down a lot of social barriers, too," Lemmerman says. "I would recommend a date with someone eating chicken wings. You’re covered in sauce, across the table from someone. It’s the most intimate meal you can have. If a girl is comfortable enough around you to get messy with some chicken wings, that’s a pretty good sign."

What: South Florida Wing Bash When: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, July 12 Where: Near Sunset Cove Amphitheater at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 20405 Amphitheater Circle, Boca Raton Cost: $59.99+ for all-you-can-eat-and-dring access from 7 to 10 p.m.; VIP admission is $79.99+ for entry at 6 p.m. Group packages also available, and ticket prices are set to increase by $5 after July 5 Information: BattleBrosEvents.com Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and X @BenCrandell.