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Should lemon pepper be Georgia’s official chicken wing favor? Some lawmakers think so.

Wings are on the menu at J.R. Crickets in Atlanta, and there is a proposal to make lemon pepper the state's official wing flavor. (Leah Overstreet/The New York Times file)
Wings are on the menu at J.R. Crickets in Atlanta, and there is a proposal to make lemon pepper the state's official wing flavor. (Leah Overstreet/The New York Times file) Wings are on the menu at J.R. Crickets in Atlanta, and there is a proposal to make lemon pepper the state's official wing flavor. (Leah Overstreet/The New York Times file)

By Zoë Christopher / Georgia Recorder 4 min read



ATLANTA — Lemon pepper wings, a staple of Atlanta restaurants and recent meme culture, could soon get official recognition at the Georgia Capitol.

House Bill 1013 was introduced by Rep. Eric Bell, a Jonesboro Democrat, and is cosponsored by Rep. Kasey Carpenter, a Dalton Republican. It would make lemon pepper wings the official state chicken wing flavor for Georgia, adding to the list of food-related bills that have been introduced in recent years.

Bell said his idea came from traditions that were familiar to many Georgians. The Legislature has recently designated state foods ranging from Brunswick stew to cornbread, and Bell saw an opportunity to highlight something he believes is just as culturally significant.