'Buffalo' aims to give patrons spice with sports

A new wave of interest in the world of competitive eating has gripped America by the heartstrings by combining two things many Americans love; food and winning. Now, with the addition of The Grazing Buffalo, A&M-Commerce students and faculty have the opportunity to test their guts in a culinary contest called the Waiver Wing Challenge.

"The waiver wing is a hot wing that my husband came up with and we have had a few people eat them," restaurant owner Laura Eickelberger said. "It's called the waiver wing because we make you sign a waiver before you eat them, [stating] that you are not going to hold us liable. [They are] that hot."

The challenge pits a diner against seven wings with owner Rick Eickelberger's secret sauce in a period of eight minutes. The catch, Mrs. Eckelberger said, was that then the diner has to wait another five minutes without anything to drink or wipe their mouth with. Completing the challenge within the rules will get the diner a spot on the "wall of pain" and eventually a t-shirt. Though the waiver wings are designed to bring in customers, it is not the only homemade sauce The Grazing Buffalo has to offer.

"My husband created all of the sauces that we have, the Carolina red is his secret recipe that he does," Eickelberger said. "We have always wanted a wing place, but I wanted a salad bar and the burgers and barbecue kind of came with the place."

Along with some menu items, much of the décor is a flashback to the businesses' former tenant, Blackjack Barbecue. However, Eickelberger said that they plan on redecorating and adding more televisions to view sporting events.

"When I walked in here, it was The Grazing Buffalo, because it has the Indian western look," Eickelberger said. "I have a lot of work to still do, but we are working on it."

Though the Eickelberger's realize the proximity to the downtown bar scene and college campus, they aim to set themselves apart from the established pack with Facebook connectivity.

"I want a restaurant that just so happens to have a bar and you can have a few drinks at the table with dinner, but I don't want this to be one of the bars downtown," Eickelberger said. "I love the bars downtown; they are great and I have checked them out, but I want a restaurant. I want to have fun and, the wings are going to be a blast."