Oysters Challenge

      Louisiana is one of my favorite places to visit. It use to be one of the many places I have lived in my life, but it is special because just outside of New Orleans was my first home. Regardless, of a wonderful Football team (Who dat?)and the crazy festive of Mardi Gras, Louisiana is known for their food and culture.
     the Acme Oyster House has multiple Locations throughout Louisiana and they offer one of the most unusal eating challenges I have come across. The contestant has to eat 15 dozen oysters in one sitting. Lets do the math, 1 dozen is 12 oysters, so 15x12=180 oysters. I lover oysters, but even I'm questioning how many I can eat in one setting. According to the rules:

Challenge: Eat 15 dozen oysters (180) in one sitting .
Time Limit: Must average 7 dozen an hour, can’t sit there all day.
People: 1
Prize: Free (or discounted) Oysters, Name on the wall, T-shirt
Rules: According to the website the only rule is you have to eat them in one sitting by yourself, but ask your waitress for official rules

The website also makes mention that this challenge was featured on Man vs. Food. But, the funniest thing was all the people who had completed the challenge and went on to eat a couple more dozen oysters. The record was set in January of 2012 by Brad Sciullo for eating 43 Dozen or 513 oysters in one setting. Each dozen cost 11$ normally, but if you eat 15 dozen then they cost 5.50$ . The only way to get it for free is to beat the record of 43. Good luck.

The Olympic Burger Challenge

     Afton, Wyoming is a small town of country folks that are perfectly content with life despite never wondering beyond the states border. Afton is dear to my heart because my mother grew up there. She can't stand the small town atmosphere and now prefers the big city while my dad who grew up in big cities is sick of the noise and prefers the country.
       Regardless, this small town is home to the Rulon Burger challenge at Rulon Gardner's Burger Barn. The restaurant is owned by the legendary Rulon Gardner who won a gold medal in wrestling during the 2000 Olympics. He did this by beating Alexander Karelin from Russia, who hadn't lost over 13 years. I've personally never met him, but my aunt went to high school with him in his hometown of Afton.
      The challenge is to finish a 1.5lb burger, basket of fries, and a 44-ounce drink in 20 minutes. Perhaps the coolest thing about beating this challenge is getting a a signed Rulon Gardner Olympic Champion T-shirt and their name on Rulon's Wall of Fame.So far the best time has been 8 minutes, 23 seconds since the restaurants opening in 2004.
     This is definitely a challenge I am excited to try within the next few months when I visit my grandma up in Afton. For anyone heading north to Jacksonhole remember to stop.

The Inferno Soup Challenge - Never been Done!

      Nitally's is debatable the most inhumane challenge I have heard of. It is a Thai-Mexican restaurant in St. Peterburg Florida that offers a soup so imaginably hot that supposedly no one has ever finished it. Originally, the owners offered 150$ to anyone who could do the challenge, but since no one has yet to ever finish the entire bowl, the prize has raised up to 1000$. 
    The soup uses Ghost Peppers, perhaps the hottest eatable ingredient  known to man. It is about 100 times hotter than a Jalapeno pepper. It is "a pepper so dangerous the Indian government considered using them in non-lethal hand grenades".
       Nitally's restaurants website list several regulations before a participant can even compete. 1) be 18 or older. 2) be in good health and of a sound mind. 3) no getting up from your seat. 4) Must be sober. The bowl must be Finished in 30 minutes to earn the respect of being the first to win 1000$. However, if you fail then the penalty is a 49.99$ bowl of the most miserable soup imaginable. Too any brave souls willing to try it, we salute you.

Tacos

      Poblanos is a Mexican bar and grill in four different locations (Clearwater, Bradenton, Johnson City, Bradon) in Florida. Although I use to live in Florida for a number of years, I never have had the opportunity of trying their food. Regardless, next time I fly back there I'm going to have to try their 20 Tacos in 40 Minutes challenge.
      Contestants given a plate full of 10 tacos at a time. Only 13 people have finished the challenge to win the lavish prize of a paid-meal, T-shirt and photo. this surprised me cause this challenge seems like something I'd be willing to try and willing to bet that would be relatively easy. The reigning champion is posted on their website with a record of 31 Tacos in 40 minutes. 

their website posted the RULES:

1. Must eat at least 20 tacos in 40 minutes to qualify.
2. Cannot leave the table at any time during the contest.
3. The tacos are served 10 at a time.
4. The plate must be cleaned out.
5. If 20 tacos are eaten, then we will pay for the tacos and you will get a Poblano's shirt.
6. Your photo will be on out Taco Contest Wall, website and facebook
   
7. You are disqualified if you cannot keep them down.