Man vs. Food was a cult TV show that highlighted the adventures of host Adam Richman and his quest for unique flavors across the country. It also chronicled his attempt to defeat massive eating challenges that ranged for burgers the size of hubcaps to mountains of meat and potatoes. However, for heat seekers, one thing stands out – Man vs. Food spicy wings. Adam had several run-ins with ultra and nuclear hot wings during the seasons the show ran.
He Preferred Real Peppers
One of the most interesting things about the various Man vs. Food spicy wings episodes is that Adam actually preferred the ones where real peppers played a role, rather than the ones where the heat was based on pepper extract. In an interview with The Guardian, he said, “With heat challenges, challenges that use the whole pepper are much, much easier than ones that use pepper extract. That’s concentrated, and also devoid of flavor. It’s just heat. To me, I also felt that the better chefs worked with the real pepper. It’s about finding the balance between heat and taste.”
So, if you’re intent on creating your own remake of a Man vs. Food spicy wings challenge, remember Adam’s advice – extract is great, but the real masters use the whole pepper.
The most memorable Man vs. Food spicy wings challenge involved “fire in your hole hot wings”. Adam was able to manage only two of these nuclear hot wings before he had to bow out with sweat pouring from his face and tears from his eyes. The hot sauce was ghost pepper extract, and it proved to be just too hot to handle.
It Can Get Dangerous
While normal spicy foods are not particularly dangerous to you, unless you have a sensitivity to spice, there is an element of danger to “food challenges”, particularly where extract is used to increase the heat level to near insane levels. While you won’t sustain physical burns from the spice, it is very possible to get blisters on your soft palate and your lips. It’s also possible for the heat to scorch away your sense of taste for days at a time. While you might get props for conquering the challenge, how much will you be enjoying life if you’re forced to go to the emergency room for a blistered mouth, or spend the next week with everything tasting like cardboard?
Don’t believe that these sorts of challenges can be dangerous? Consider the fact that a chef attempting a chili challenge in the style of Man vs. Food spicy wings was actually taken to the hospital. After eating just three wings, he was short of breath, sweating, and eventually collapsed right at the table. He spent the next few days wracked with agonizing stomach cramps and diarrhea due to his sensitivity to the spice.
In the end, enjoy your spice at whatever level you prefer. Just remember to be safe while you’re doing it.