Whenever I say “hot wings,” I want to say it in a James Brown voice, something with swagger and, well, heat. Hot wings! Sorta like “Hot damn!” but you can say it in front of little kids. We gathered wings from seven venues and put them to the test.  

News for my sweeties — and you know who you are — includes updates from Skirtz & Johnson, AJ Creations, Sugar Cupcakery, Abby Girl Sweets, Three Tiers Contemporary Cakes and Cupcakes, Chocolats Latour, Melt's Picnic and Pantry, City Cellars and Chalk.  

What’s wine and cheese without crackers? It’s just incomplete. And that brings us to Maria Walley, who has the enviable position of supplying vinophiles with an essential element of their favorite meal. Maria is the owner of Daelia’s Biscuits for Cheese, a new company selling delicious English biscuits — that’s crackers to you Yanks — nationwide at Whole Foods.  

Honor thy mother, dear readers, and that means you've got until Sunday to get your act together. Now here's the rub: Everyone wants to take their mom out to eat for Mother's Day, thus making it a classic overcrowding situation. Here are a few suggestions, with one caveat: Make reservations when possible.   

Molly Thompson is originally from Paris, Ky. She started waiting tables at Otto's, a wonderful bistro in MainStrasse, and worked her way into the kitchen while also graduating from the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State in April. She talks about her career choices and her passion for food.  

I was walking up Vine Street downtown on a beautiful spring day when I was grabbed and dragged onto Garfield Place. In broad daylight! By barbecue smoke! Oh readers, I'll tell you, it wasn't pretty — but the ribs cooking at Fins and Feathers on Garfield Place were completely irresistible.   

Our friends at Melt announced a new Sunday brunch menu that's vegetarian heaven: Sweet Potato Tempeh Hash, Bread Pudding French Toast, cage-free eggs and organic peas that were raised with respect. Really. Plus news on Washington Platform's Oyster Fest, Vivaldi at Via Vite, vegan food at Lucky John Market and new locations for Taqueria Mercado.  

Senate is the new place where the cool kids go, and I know why: It's fun, the menu doesn't take itself too seriously and its location is red hot. Senate's mission is to present upscale street food, and they've done a terrific job of planning a menu that's varied enough to suit most appetites but taken up a few notches so no one is disappointed.  

If you haven't been to Findlay Market lately, you're in for some surprises. Sure, if you're a home cook or even a professional chef, the market is a great place for fresh, local ingredients. Now more than ever, though, the market has become a place to eat, with ever expanding options for ready-to-eat meals, either at home or on the spot.  

"Dear 'concept' restaurant: It isn't the diner's responsibility to be in tune with your fad, unless you want to appeal to only the few who knew ahead of time that you have a 'niche.' When a customer is visibly uncomfortable with your concept, offer guidance. Or kiss that customer goodbye forever. Can you afford to do that? No, not really."