Barflys love their hot wings, but can they handle the heat from the hottest chili pepper in the world?
We'll find out Thursday when Jake Melnick's Corner Tap (41. E Superior) hosts its inaugural Battle of the Bhut wing eating contest.
The contest serves as a fundraiser for the Chicago Fire Department, who'll be on hand to help douse the heat, and will be emceed by the legendary Bill Kurtis, who'll provide the play-by-play.
Contestants will eat Jake's XXX wings, which are made with the Bhut Jolokia pepper, named the hottest pepper in the world by the Guiness Book of World Records. The Bhut Jolokia rates around 1.5 million on the Scoville scale, which measures pepper pungency. To put that in context, that's more than 100 times hotter than a jalapeno.
If eating competitions aren't your thing, Jake's is offering specials on wings that you can eat at a leisurely pace, and $2 Miller Lite drafts.
The Battle of the Bhut winner gets four all-inclusive theatre box tickets to the United Center for a Bulls or Blackhawks game, a free private party for 15 at Jake Melnick's Corner Tap and a year's supply of wings -- provided they still have the stomach for it after the contest.
Entry forms are available at www.jakemelnicks.com.
