New Haven Independent

Mills, 35, opened Wing Madness at 716 Dixwell on May 4. Business has been booming.

Wing Madness endorses a rule: Fresh Food, not Fast. Everything is always cooked to order, never pre-cooked. There are no heat lamps, no microwaves, and no holding bins.

“Before we opened, we did a year of studying food channels, checking out competition, and sampling flavors,” he said. If a flavor didn’t have a big response among the testing of family and friends, then it didn’t make the cut of the menu’s 14 versions.

Click on the play arrow to watch Mills in auction cooking the sauce.

I tried some of those sauces, and got a trip around the world.

First, I visited Garfield Mills’ home in the Caribbean: Jamaica. The Tropical Mango Wing has a tangy sweet taste.

Next we went to Italy with the “Zealous Garlic Parmesan Wing.” This wing leaves your mouth watering with its zesty cheesy flavor.

We ended with the Asian Fusion Wing. By far my favorite wing, it is exactly what the name entails: fused with Asian spices drenched in a sweet sauce.

Fair warning about the Steamy Caliente Wing: This should come with a fire extinguisher, as I learned when I only dipped a little of the sauce on my pinky finger and dabbed it onto my tongue. Try this wing at your own risk.

Wing Madness’s self-proclaimed #1 customer, Ericka Andrade, praised both the food and “fun and laid-back” atmosphere, plus the convenience of having a wings restaurant right in her neighborhood. Her favorite feature: You can mix and match your order with different flavors.

Mills previously owned a hip-hop Magazine and currently works on a Gospel/Christian publication called Destiny. He is married to a self-published author, Christine Mills; they live in Hartford.

Why open so far way from home? “I didn’t choose New Haven,” Mills responded. “God led us to New Haven. He leads, we just follow.” He said he has found the customers on Dixwell Avenue to be friendly. “I treat my customers on Dixwell, the same way I would treat customers if I was in Greenwich.”

Mills does have dreams for his restaurant beyond Dixwell Avenue. “In five years, I can see Wing Madness up and down the East Coast,” he said. It doesn’t stop there. “And in ten years, I can see Wing Madness all over the U.S.”

Asked if he could imagine Wing Madness in Europe; Mills simply smiled. “That would be amazing. It could happen through the Graces of God.”

Meanwhile, Mills said, “I want to do charity drives and scholarship funds sponsored by Wing Madness. I want to give back to the community of New Haven.”

His plans don’t include dabbling in non-wing chicken parts. “In the Cooking Industry we use the K.I.S.S. it theory: Keep It Simple Stupid,” Mills said. “We’ve found our niche.”

Sign Up for Email AlertsEmail This Story Email the Author

Your Email:

Recipient's Email:
Your Email:
Message (optional):

Your Name:
Your Email:
Message: