A pair of Yellowknife entrepreneurs saw a business opportunity and opted to wing it.

In April, they launched Wing Freak, filling a culinary niche of chicken wings.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e wing freaks, we do our wings in an authentic way that only we know, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a catchy name,SA国际影视传媒� said Laurence Barbosa, who operates the business with his friend Erick Paz. SA国际影视传媒淲e found out that most people here in Yellowknife love chicken. (And) we love eating chicken wings and any kind of chicken.SA国际影视传媒�

About two years ago, they knew they wanted to open a business but werenSA国际影视传媒檛 sure at the time what it would be. The COVID-19 pandemic turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

SA国际影视传媒淲e wanted to open it in the Philippines but then COVID-19 happened. So then we decided to try it in Yellowknife. The feedback weSA国际影视传媒檝e received since then was overwhelming,SA国际影视传媒� Paz said.

The friends initially launched Wing Freak for one week in August 2020, then stopped to acquire the necessary permits.

Their first official day as a registered business was April 9, 2021.

The response from customers that Friday night a couple of months ago was tremendous: Barbosa and Paz sold 900 wings.

Demand has remained high ever since. They average sales of 1,500 wings for their Friday to Sunday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. business period.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been great. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e been getting a lot of love and support from the community. We didnSA国际影视传媒檛 expect that at all. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e doing our best to give the best service we can,SA国际影视传媒� said Paz.

Working in BarbosaSA国际影视传媒檚 home kitchen, the wing freaks deep-fry their wings and then coat them in sauces.

Their flavours include salt and pepper, honey-sriracha, garlic-parmesan, hot and spicy and lemon pepper. They also make an adobo sauce, based on the Filipino dish of chicken marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves and peppercorns; and a Jack DanielSA国际影视传媒檚 wing recipe.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Jack DanielSA国际影视传媒檚 is sweet and has a kick, like the drink. We put a little whiskey in it, just so they can taste it,SA国际影视传媒� said Barbosa.

The parmesan and honey-sriracha have been the most popular sauces.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been getting good feedback from the adobo ones too, even though those are mostly familiar to Filipinos,SA国际影视传媒� Barbosa said.

They also offer rice and coleslaw as side dishes.

Though things are going well for Paz and Barbosa, theySA国际影视传媒檝e had a few bumps in the road just over two months into their venture.

When they started out, it was a challenge to find a wing supplier that could meet their order demands, and they ran out a few times. But since they started buying from Northbest Distributors, their supplies have been more reliable.

A few negative online reviews of their wings also caused a couple of headaches.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have regular full-time jobs so time management is an issue as well,SA国际影视传媒� Paz said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been tough sometimes but weSA国际影视传媒檝e been working hard to make adjustments. The communication that we have as owners is pretty good because weSA国际影视传媒檙e friends. Now weSA国际影视传媒檙e business partners.SA国际影视传媒�

For now, Wing Freak is delivery only. If things go really well for them, the duo might open a physical restaurant in a few years.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur goal is to have a physical dine-in restaurant but we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a time yet because itSA国际影视传媒檒l be a big investment. WeSA国际影视传媒檒l take it one day at a time,SA国际影视传媒� Barbosa said. SA国际影视传媒淲e just want to give the best service we can. The support that weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting from our friends and families, and the camaraderie and the unity weSA国际影视传媒檙e building in Yellowknife is great. I think the personal growth weSA国际影视传媒檝e experienced is great too. This is a new thing for us. We figured out so much in just two months.SA国际影视传媒�