Ex-Marine on a Mission to Perfect the Hot Wing

Pete Naughton's takeout-only joint Big Sauce serves jumbo wings and signature Chicago-style sauces.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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NBC Chicago's Food Guy Kevin Pang profiles Pete Naughton, a former Marine and high school football coach who has spent years perfecting the art of the hot wing. Naughton's takeout-only restaurant Big Sauce in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood serves jumbo wings fried in beef tallow and tossed in a signature Chicago-style mild sauce, as well as crispy potato shards that Pang says may be even better than the wings.

Why it matters

Naughton's obsession with elevating the humble hot wing highlights the passion and dedication some chefs and restaurateurs have for mastering a single signature dish. His focus on quality ingredients, precise cooking techniques, and unique sauces sets Big Sauce apart in a crowded Chicago food scene dominated by mainstream wing chains.

The details

After years of research and experimentation, Naughton opened Big Sauce, a takeout-only joint in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. The restaurant serves jumbo chicken wings that are fried to a crunchy exterior using beef tallow as the fry oil, giving them a distinctive Popeyes-like flavor. While classic Buffalo hot sauce is available, the signature sauce is a Chicago-style mild sauce that blends ketchup, barbecue, and sweet and sour flavors. In addition to the wings, Big Sauce also offers "Big Potatoes" - crispy potato shards that Pang says may be even better than the wings.

  • Over the last few years, Naughton embarked on a pilgrimage to dozens of restaurants serving hot wings and to Buffalo, New York to research the perfect wing.
  • After many years of trial and error, Naughton opened Big Sauce in 2026.

The players

Pete Naughton

A former Marine and high school football coach who has spent years perfecting the art of the hot wing and opened the takeout-only restaurant Big Sauce in Chicago.

Kevin Pang

The "Food Guy" at NBC Chicago who has covered the Chicago food scene for over 15 years and profiled Naughton's obsession with the hot wing.

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What they’re saying

“I've been covering the Chicago food scene for over 15 years. And I've never met a man more obsessed with perfecting the mighty hot wing than Pete Naughton.”

— Kevin Pang, Food Guy (NBC Chicago)

The takeaway

Naughton's dedication to elevating the humble hot wing through careful ingredient selection, precise cooking techniques, and unique sauces demonstrates the passion some chefs have for mastering a single signature dish. His takeout-only restaurant Big Sauce is setting a new standard for hot wings in the crowded Chicago food scene.