Cerza's wings best Flay in cook-off

San Antonio Business Journal - San Antonio, TX, USA - Buffalo Wing King Drew Cerza further cemented his royal title by beating celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a chicken wing cooking competition that's airing nationally this month.

The episode of the Food Network show "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" featuring Cerza first aired June 14 and will repeat beginning at 4 p.m., June 17.

Cerza's Bourbon Street Buffalo Wings beat Flay's Hot Wings with BlueCheese-Yogurt Sauce in a head-to-head battle that was filmed in April. Recipes for both can be found at www.foodnetwork.com.

Food Network crews were in Buffalo ostensibly to film a segment for a show featuring Cerza and the National Buffalo Wing Festival he founded.

During a cooking demonstration and wing tasting at The Anchor Bar, Flay crashed the party and challenged Cerza to a chicken wing cook-off.

Cerza said he was taken by surprise by Flay's arrival at the restaurant. He nodded and greeted "the guy" standing off to one side, who then introduced himself. Cerza professed to be frozen with shock, then, "I ordered a beer," he said.

Cerza was selected for the "Throwdown" program by researchers from the Food Network who scour the country for chefs of popular food.

Flay is given a few weeks to come up with his own recipe and then sent unannounced to challenge the chef during what the chef believes is a profile being filmed for a new television program.

The winner was announced after a blind taste test by two local judges.