A couple of weeks ago, before playing golf, my buddy Russell wanted to grab lunch. He recommended Wing Man. I love chicken wings, and have been trying to find the best wings in town. Keep in mind, my love of wings started with the breaded BBQ wings at Hooters Restaurant. Scotty’s Brewhouse makes good wings, too. I liked Scotty’s because they have 16 sauces, and I would always order 16 wings each with a different sauce. I digress.
When Russell and I first visited Wing Man, I quickly learned they started as a food truck, and opened their first location in Cotati in July. It was hard to decide what to order, so we grabbed 12-14 wings and a variety of sauces. A complete list of their sauces is below:
Double Dog Dare You! (Buffalo- extra HOT!)
Double trouble you’ve been warned! Dusted with Carolina Reaper powder and served with our signature chili sauce laced with Carolina Reaper chilis
Atomic Fireball (Buffalo- HOT)
Our signature buffalo sauce taken up a notch!
Light me Up (Buffalo- Medium)
Wing Man’s house blended 3 chili buffalo sauce
Spicy Green Goddess (Medium)
Jalapeno based sauce blended to a smooth perfection with with fresh cilantro, garlic, and onion
Crazy Uncle Kim (Medium)
Korean chili based sauce with hints of orange and toasted sesame finished with scallions
Southern Brother (Mild)
Low Country Carolina style mustard based tangy BBQ sauce
Smokey Bones (Mild)
Smokey goodness accented with a touch of sweetness in a classic style BBQ sauce
Clover Honey & Dijon Mustard (Mild)
Local honey blended with Dijon mustard for a remixed classic flavor
Tokyo Town Teriyaki (Mild)
Classic soy sauce base with garlic, ginger, scallions and a touch of sweetness
Naked and Not Afraid
Served up with just sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
Russell also ordered a side of Wing Man Small Batch Made Sweet & Spicy Pickles. We had a couple of beers, the service was great and their sauces are incredible.
I was so impressed with the visit; on the way out I grabbed Joe’s business card. We started talking by email and I knew an interview was in store. It seemed fitting to schedule some time to come back to Wing Man to do the interview while eating chicken wings! My keyboard might be covered in sauce, but it was fun learning more about Joe and Wing Man. I hope you’re hungry because it is my pleasure to introduce you to Joe Trez.
Start by giving me an overview of Wing Man. Where did the idea come from and when did you know you wanted to sell chicken wings for a living.
I came from the East Coast where we have lots of good wing places and I have loved them ever since I was a kid. Now living on the West Coast, I couldn’t find any good wing places so I decided to open my own. I decided to pick one thing and do it great. “Everybody needs a good Wing Man.”
I love chicken wings. It all started with the breaded BBQ wings at Hooters. Tell me more about your wings and how you prepare them.
I grew up with having them crispy served with the sauce on the side. I don’t bread them because the wings themselves are crispy enough when done right (which we do.)
The sauce can make or break a wing for me. What sort of sauces do you have and are you looking to add more sauces over time?
We have an array of sauces that are all made from scratch of personal recipes. We have all the workings of traditional buffalo style to sweet and mild. I do plan on adding more sauces as the time goes on, there’s a few in the works and we may even do a sauce of the week!
How many people do you have working for Wing Man?
I have a solid crew of eight and growing.
A lot of restaurants have a “food challenge” to drum up business. Any thoughts on having your very own Wing Man challenge… Maybe with a sauce too hot to eat or finishing 100 wings in less than an hour. Just an idea!
There’s a challenge brewing that will most likely involve a heat element to it.
Wing Man started with a food truck. When did you decide to open a brick and mortar location?
I realized that my business was growing which meant I was outgrowing the shared kitchen location I was at. We also wanted to sell beer to go along with our wings.
Why did you pick Cotati?
Cotati needed a really good wing place.
Besides chicken wings, what else is on the menu?
Beer, lots of beer. As far as food goes, we have two really good sandwiches (one being pulled pork) and multiple options for fries. The menu will be expanding coming soon.
As a craft beer snob, I love that! You have cans, bottles and draft beer available. What sort of beers do you like drinking and are you focused on featuring local craft beers?
I myself am a hoppy IPA and crisp pilsner lover. I like featuring local breweries and hard to get beer. We also offer some classics that you may have forgotten about.
Wing Man has a lot of positive reviews online. But not everyone is going to have a good experience. How do you handle negative reviews when those come in?
We realize that our style is not the same style some are used to at chain restaurants, with the wings tossed in Frank’s RedHot; we make our own sauces from scratch and serve the sauce on the side to keep the wings crispy, but we try to accommodate each style by having a hot sauce table and tossing some wings for those who prefer the sauce on them.
Do you release where the food truck will be every night, or do locals just need to stumble upon you?
We do have our schedule online for those who like to follow the food truck at our many different locations. They can check out the local spot and know they will be getting quality food. We love our regulars.
Do you take the truck elsewhere, or just in Sonoma County? We live close to San Francisco. I imagine folks down there also enjoy chicken wings! Curious your strategy and if there are any regulations on that.
We participate in the Fort Mason Off The Grid Friday Night Food Truck Party every other Friday, during the summer months, by the Presidio of San Francisco. There are numerous restrictions and permits needed to run the food truck at locations, but we are willing to go where the Wing Man is needed.
Besides Wing Man, what are some of your favorite places to eat in Wine Country?
I love going to SEA Thai Bistro, Bouchon Bistro and Hana Japanese Restaurant.
Your wings are served with the sauce on the side. Can I get them tossed in the sauce if I want?
Yes, of course we can toss the wings. We do, however, recommend that the sauce is tasted before getting the wings tossed, if requested.
Where can people learn more about Wing Man?
We have frequent postings on social media, but my recommendation would be to come in and talk to our friendly staff to learn some cool fun facts and history.
What’s next for Wing Man?
As we are expanding our customer base, food menu and staff, the options are open.
At the end of the day, I couldn’t do any of this without the support of my husband and the rockstar team at the restaurant and on the food truck.
Connect with Wing Man:
Website: https://wingmanfoodtruck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wingmansoco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingmansoco
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wing-man-cotati
