BARRYVILLE, NY — B.V.H. Sports Bar is trying to win the Hudson Valley Wingbowl contest for the third time running at the Saturday, January 24 Ramada Conference Center contest in Fishkill. Its wings have already been chosen twice as the best by the 1,200 to 1,500 annual visitors. Owner John Bouloukos said, “We hope we’ll win again. I’ve been working hard to make new sauces for the contest.” He works at the bar together with his brother Greg; both brothers make sauces, experimenting with the regulars who fill the bar on wing nights. “Many people come from an hour away to our wing night,” the beaming John said, adding the number of visitors increased significantly after the wins.

The actual final contest in Fishkill has about 20 vendors each of whom brings several wing flavors. During the weeks leading up to the annual competition, local eating contests take place in area bars, including B.V.H. The winners who ate the most wings in least time and create the least mess get to appear on K104.7 radio, and try to win in the Fishkill eating finals on the competition night, hoping to earn the grand price of $1,047.

For a $25 entry fee, visitors get to try every wing flavor in the contest, as well as to dance to the tunes of three bands (rock, country and reggae); $45 gets you two wings of every flavor, free beer, and the use of a VIP lounge. This year features the celebrity professional woman wrestler and model Velvet Sky; and the event is judged by popular vote and celebrity judges.

New this year is the Dessert Wing category, for which John has created the Apple Cinnabombs Sauce, made of roasted apples, cinnamon, and habanero peppers. “It’s sweet and spicy. It really is good, let me tell you,” he said enthusiastically.

For the other three categories of Best Buffalo Style, Most Creative Wings and the Hottest Wings, John has come up with new sauces, including Honey Garlic Sriracha, Buffalo Jalapeno Cheddar and White Trash Sauce: a spicy garlic mashed potato sauce.

“White Trash Sauce is probably going to be a crowd favorite based on what I’ve seen testing with people here,” John recounted.

He got the idea for the sauce from his grandmother who used to make a Greek potato item that you spread on bread like bruschetta. The wing itself is served with a little gravy drizzled on top, and a gravy dip on the side. “It’s real comfort food,” he explained.

John started making wings at his dad’s restaurant in Albany as a teenager; in Barryville, he thought it was time to make the wings a little more interesting, and different from what was being served ‘everywhere’, and so he started making his own sauces. He even hopes to eventually bottle his now award-winning sauces for retail sales.

A bus leaves the B.V.H Bar 3 p.m. on Saturday for the 4:30 p.m. start, and the party goes on until 9 p.m. Tickets for $20 round trip are available from John at the B.V.H.; call 845/557-9903. By car, take Route 84 to exit 13, take the first left at the light, and Ramada Conference Center is on your right.