You learn something new everyday…like, for instance when you find out about the  Italian origins  of Buffalo wings and pretzels. I honestly didn’t expect it. One of my best friends is a proud Buffalonian: she loves her city, is a faithful Bills’ supporter and there’s nothing about Buffalo she doesn’t miss dearly now that she lives in Europe.

She was, of course, the first to introduce me to Buffalo wings: disappointed by those on offer in the Irish city where we went to college together she, one evening, decided to make them for me from scratch. I still remember our desperate search for Frank’s in each and every supermarket of the area, and her stern, almost offended look when I suggested to “pick another hot sauce.”