Paige’s fried chicken sandwich from Sophie’s is one of the best chicken sandwiches I have ever had. Two thickly-cut slices of toasted bread of your choice, sliced tomatoes, and a dill cream spread on the bread. A perfectly-cooked fried chicken cutlet breaded in panko, parmesan, and parsley to balance the heaviness of the oil-fried chicken cutlet. These sandwiches are served with locally-sourced microgreens; one of my favorite combinations is adding the pickled onions that come with the microgreens into or on top of the sandwich, giving it just enough sourness to balance out the sweetness of the tomatoes and the saltiness of the fried chicken. At the first bite, I was astonished by the balance of the whole meal, considering the usually low, sloppy quality of the chicken sandwiches that fast food chains typically provide. However, since this fateful encounter, I have become a die-hard fan of chicken sandwiches and everything related to the art of this ingredient.

Moreover, to call me a wing fiend is a dire understatement. I’ve tried wings from all over the globe. My expert taste buds, however, have zeroed in on one option for the Champion of this fierce competition: Cozzy’s wings. Its customizability for pizza and variety of sandwiches and burgers paved its way as the best New York-style pizzeria in Kent, but believe me when I say that its wings are a hidden gem. Even though they’re not as crunchy as those which are breaded or fried twice, the faint crispness and the flavor and cook on the chicken definitely make up for it. 

As an unofficial spokesperson of Sophie’s and Cozzy’s, I strongly encourage everyone to dip their toes into the world of their chicken sandwiches and wings. Sure, the dining hall is nice, but once in a while you have to spoil yourself with delicacies — and now you know the places to go.