The Chicken Wing Hall of Flame is an idea whose time has come, proclaims Drew Cerza, Buffalo's "wing king."

There already are at least three halls of fame devoted to the hamburger, and a San Diegan who calls himself Uncle Frank is proposing a Hot Dog Hall of Fame for his collection of wiener memorabilia.

Why not one for the Buffalo-hatched food icon that appears on restaurant menus across the nation, and may now be America's most popular "finger food," reasons Cerza, founder of the National Buffalo Wing Festival. The event will take over Dunn Tire Park on Sept. 2-3. Several participating restaurants will serve free wings during a festival preview starting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in Niagara Square.

Cerza said a committee has been formed to select the first Hall of Flame nominees from among restaurant owners and others in the food industry who have advanced the wing's climb from an unwanted chicken part that usually ended up in the dumpster to a much-devoured favorite.

Members of the public also will have a say through a weighted online voting process, said the local food promoter, who will announce the inductees on the first night of the fifth annual wing festival. Votes may be cast at www.buffalowing.com. Plaques with the inductees' names will be hung in Pettibones Grille at the baseball park until the Chicken Wing Hall of Flame finds a permanent home, Cerza said.

The hall also will name several honorary Buffalo wing "ambassadors" who have helped promote the festival across the country, he added.

It goes without saying that chickens, despite their obvious contribution to this gastronomic success story, would not be considered for membership.

"I'm sure they think of it as a Hall of Shame," Cerza said, "and I'm probably No. 1 on their list."