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Hot Stuff: Chichen Itza Hosts Chili-Eating Comp This Sunday
(Photo credit: Krista Simmons)
If you're one of those whackadoodles that dreams of one day having Adam Richman's job, here's your chance to train. This Sunday, as part of Mercado la Paloma's Father's Day festival, Chichen Itza restaurant will be having its second annual habanero eating competition. Last year the competition was done with the restaurant's famous habanero-based hot sauce. Things have changed this time around, though. The comp will be done with whole chilis. Why?
"One of the conestants decided to drink the sauce instead [of eating it with a taco]. He was advised not to, but we went ahead and did it anyways," says executive chef Gilberto Cetina Jr. "He beat everyone by a landslide, but it didn't end up well for him. He had to go to the hospital."
Needless to say, you'll have to sign a waiver to get in on the hot-headed action. Everyone who enters gets a commemorative t-shirt, and the winner will receive a $200 gift certificate to the restaurant. And the glory, of course.
You can sign up at the restaurant or by phone from now through Sunday morning at noon. The festival at the Mercado will go from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with the chili-eating competition beginning at 2 p.m. In addition to the face-searing competitive eating, there will be baile folklorico, salsa dancing classes, a burrito making contest, remote control car races, and a neck tie tying competition -- none of which will land you in the hospital, unless you're a really bad dancer.
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