Event/AftermathGoing into the XXX wing eating contest at Jake Melnick’s last night, I was aiming to eat three (I’d sampled one on the WGN broadcast with Dane Neal a week or so ago, and it was so hot I figured I couldn’t do more than three).
Starting last week, I ate a small piece of Carolina Reaper twice per day to build up a tolerance (to whatever extent that’d be possible in the time I had). Right before the event, I ate about 2 cups of buttered rice, a banana and a shot of Mylanta. I sprinkled the rice with ghost pepper powder, on Gary Wiviott’s suggestion that such might prepare the body for further capsaicin intake (I believe it did that).
I got off the Red Line at Chicago, stopped at McDonald’s and got a large chocolate milk shake and took it with me to Jake Melnick’s. Before we started, the host told us “No dairy during the contest,” so I drank about half the milk shake before we began.
I brought Latex gloves Ronnie Kaplan gave me, and Melnick’s also provided gloves, which was very decent and thoughtful of them.
We were told we’d have five minutes to eat as many wings as we could. A basket of 10 was put before each us.
Taking the meat off the bone before eating made a huge difference, I think. For one, it made it easier to slam back the meat without pausing. For two, taking the meat off the bone gave the meat a little while to cool off, which helped me eat it faster and minimized the overall burning sensation in the mouth.
I removed the meat from three wings, then ate all that meat quickly (maybe 6 oz or so). I felt I could go for more, so I removed the meat from two more wings and ate that quickly. I still had a minute to go, so I stripped the meat off one more wing…but then decided I should stop at 5. Hell is for heroes.
Time was called. Others had upper lips and chins covered with hot sauce, which I’m guessing caused some irritation. My meat-removal strategy helped me avoid any of that, too.
I felt fine. I slammed back the rest of the milk shake and Melnick’s provided milk (as well as orange slices, ice cream and bread). I drank maybe 2 cups of milk.
Big guy next to me ate 9 wings; two younger guys at the table ate 4; some others ate 5 or 6. I felt okay. As the oldest wing-eater at the table, I felt no need to push it: I’d done my part…and it was kind of fun.
I brought a toothbrush and toothpaste (on Peter Engler’s suggestion that such might have a neutralizing effect), but I didn’t feel tooth brushing was necessary. My face and mouth were not burning at all; I was most concerned about my gut, but I think the milk shake lagoon in my belly absorbed most of the chili shock.
I had a beer. I went home.
This morning, I still feel fine…but I probably could have pushed to six wings. Next time. No regrets.
"Don't you ever underestimate the power of a female." Bootsy Collins