Are You Crazy Enough for Chichen Itza's Habanero-Eating Contest?

By Garrett Snyder Wed., Jun. 6 2012 at 10:35 AM

Categories: Chiles, Contests & Competitions, Eat & Drink Calendar

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habaneros

We're not sure if this would be considered a treat or torture for Dad, but on June 17 Chichen Itza restaurant is hosting its second annual habanero-eating contest as part of Mercado La Paloma's Father's Day celebration. Chichen Itza specializes in cuisine from the Yucatán Peninsula (we're big fans of the cochinita pibil), a region of Mexico not known to shy away from copious use of the habanero pepper, which measures anywhere from 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville units (jalapeños come in at a tepid 2,500 to 8,000). For anyone who's ever dabbed a bit too much habanero salsa on their tacos, it's no secret that these little orange bombs pack a payload of burn.

Heat-loving contestants will compete to consume the restaurant's homemade chile kut, a roasted habanero hot sauce (poured onto a dish of the contestant's choice). Whoever finishes the most chile sauce within the 20-minute time limit will be declared the winner, netting themselves a $50 gift card.

Think you got the cojones? The contest itself is free, and you can register up to one hour prior to contest time, which begins at 2 p.m.

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