On Saturday night, my friend Rob participated in a spicy tuna roll challenge at
Bushido Japanese restaurant. A bunch of his friends got together to watch him chow down on 10 tuna hand rolls, with the heat intensifying in each one. You may have seen an episode of
Man Vs. Food where Adam Richman participates in this same challenge. If you eat all 10 rolls on different occasions, you are called warriors; if you eat all 10 in one sitting, you are considered a
legend of the roll. During the challenge, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything other than water. You are also not allowed to use the bathroom/get sick!
For the past several weeks, Rob has been eating peppers every day in order to prepare his pallet for the event. He felt pretty confident going into the challenge and we were all excited to cheer him on. The first thing I asked Rob was what else he had eaten that day. “A four cheese tomato panini with tomato soup at Breugger’s. Before coming here, I had 2 doses of pepto and a tums.”
The first set of 5 hand rolls.
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Rob preparing for #2.
![DSC_1658 (1050x1280) DSC_1658 (1050x1280)](//lh6.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5UBX4sYI/AAAAAAAAHhI/yIk6euGODX4/DSC_1658%20%281050x1280%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
On the roll #4, Rob said that the heat was about the same as a jalapeno. At #5, he said he felt the quantity more than the heat and that on a scale of 1-10, he was at about 2. I was a little skeptical.
![DSC_1673 (1035x1280) DSC_1673 (1035x1280)](//lh5.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5V8Bs9AI/AAAAAAAAHhY/8LWiCv2deCU/DSC_1673%20%281035x1280%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
So was Brett.
![DSC_1702 (1280x916) DSC_1702 (1280x916)](//lh4.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5W38b86I/AAAAAAAAHho/ui2jro3DsDM/DSC_1702%20%281280x916%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
About 20 minutes later, Rob was ready to sign the waiver to attempt the second set of rolls. Just how hot are the final rolls? Roll #8 is filled with a whole habanero pepper! Roll #9 is filled with a green dragon chili pepper. #10 is filled with a red chili and a spicy sauce.
![DSC_1663 (1280x915) DSC_1663 (1280x915)](//lh6.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5YIawgpI/AAAAAAAAHh4/QdbPvvjJgAo/DSC_1663%20%281280x915%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
About roll #8, Rob said, “I have tasted things this hot before.” He was not afraid of #9. And finally, he was down to
the last roll. Trey had the nerve to toss a piece of wasabi on his plate, telling him to eat it with the roll! After #9, Rob said, “My ear hurts a lot.”
![DSC_1685 (1280x853) DSC_1685 (1280x853)](//lh3.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5ZE55NpI/AAAAAAAAHiI/thCNMXnlK9A/DSC_1685%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The very last bite!
![DSC_1694 (1280x1028) DSC_1694 (1280x1028)](//lh5.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5aM3LmPI/AAAAAAAAHiY/d-solo8OPh0/DSC_1694%20%281280x1028%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Challenge: complete! Rob was awarded the warrior headband! He was also rewarded with a picture of his face on the wall, a $25 gift certificate, and free appetizers or sake on every visit…if wearing the headband.
![DSC_1696 (1280x918) DSC_1696 (1280x918)](//lh3.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5bKxFXpI/AAAAAAAAHio/GCeC-2l73SA/DSC_1696%20%281280x918%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
And after all that, he ate the piece of wasabi!
![DSC_1697 (1280x918) DSC_1697 (1280x918)](//lh6.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5cRvzxHI/AAAAAAAAHi4/MzhZex6-MXg/DSC_1697%20%281280x918%29_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Now Brett was just like, “wtf, really?”
![DSC_1716 (1280x853) DSC_1716 (1280x853)](//lh4.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5ePsqWdI/AAAAAAAAHjI/XywL_2kHYho/DSC_1716%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
And Matt just got hungry and started thinking I was an Xtuna roll.
![DSC_1676 (912x1280) DSC_1676 (912x1280)](//lh4.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5fNQ-v8I/AAAAAAAAHjY/DSSoFzJVxFw/DSC_1676%20%28912x1280%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The face of a legend, whose final request was,
“Can someone text my mom?” Ha!
![DSC_1705 (1280x853) DSC_1705 (1280x853)](//lh4.ggpht.com/_ZH6olVUnxsk/TRF5gcHRGjI/AAAAAAAAHjo/5O6NAxofsys/DSC_1705%20%281280x853%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Would
you attempt the spicy tuna hand roll challenge?
Haha very funny, good for him. I am sure that was hard, I would NEVER attempt!
ReplyDeleteI am SUCH a wuss when it comes to spicy things. I'd die.
ReplyDeleteId eat one maybe two, that's it!! Way to go Rob!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe he did that!! AHHH!!! How fun. I have seen that episode of m v. food and thought there is no way I could do that. Maybe the first 3 max! You are adorable...love that picture!!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't stand a chance against a spicy challenge. I'm such a wimp!
ReplyDeleteoh, okay, never mind. ;) I saw these tuna rolls on your fb page and said I wanted them... those sound WAY too hot for me!!
ReplyDeletegreat job for him, though! Jason said he would do this challenge! :D Maybe we'll come visit...
I love Bushido! Chris was doing the challenge, just not in one sitting. He got to #7 but I don't think he plans to finish. A lot of times when we go there he just gets #3 because there is just enough spice to release those fun endorphins from the chili pepper! :)
ReplyDeleteRob is a CHAMP! My goodness, I'm impressed! As much as I wish I would do something like this, there's NO way it will ever happen. I like a little kick in my food, but an entire jalapeno would be too much. I can't imagine what would happen if I tried to eat habaneros and green dragon chiles! Holy hot hell! :-p
ReplyDeleteWOW! Thats ridiculous. I couldn't do it. When we spoke the the waitress there, she said she had seen so many people get physically sick at the table- ick!
ReplyDeleteI like hot and spicy, but damn! I think the sheer volume of rolls would kill me...
ReplyDeleteMy friend did the "Lucky's Challenge" which was one Adam did here in Chicago. This one involved sandwiches with cole slaw and fries piled on top. A-Mazing!
That's HOT! And by "that" I don't mean the tuna rolls, I mean him trying to lick your face! :)
ReplyDeleteHe is a champion, there is no way I could handle the heat or the amount of food!!! LOL @ the Xtina Roll picture. It's hot.
ReplyDeleteJen
http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/
We should now call Rob Mr. Miagi. Congrats bud on completing the challenge. I don't think I could ever take the risk of losing my intestines!
ReplyDeleteTJ - www.dressordine.com
HAHA- that's awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI love spice, but I don't know if I could eat that many rolls... I'd cheer someone on though :)
OMG amazing. I could never! His momma should be proud.
ReplyDeleteThose spicy tuna rolls actually look really good! And so does the Xtina roll heehee
ReplyDeleteFirst I have to say that headband is pretty bad-ass. I am not a fan of spicy food so I would definitely chicken out on a challenge like that!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Congrats to Rob! Now Matt is definately going to want to try this challenge!
ReplyDeleteWhoa. That's commitment. What a champ!
ReplyDeleteWow I'm so impressed! I hate spicy foods, but I think I'd be tempted to do this for the free appetizers. And the headband. ;)
ReplyDeleteHAHA my boyfriend would be ALL OVER this. He once ate a huge chunk of wasabi so I'd pay for his dinner. I love me some spice, but I don't know that I could attempt it!!
ReplyDeleteimpressive! i have no tolerance.
ReplyDeletei like that you got nibbled on! silly boy...women are for smooching, not eating!
i laughed all the way through this - great storytelling, x!
ReplyDeletehaha. This made me laugh. I couldn't do spicy either. I'm a wuss
ReplyDeleteThat's SERIOUSLY impressive. Hahaha.
ReplyDelete<3 jess
xoxo
What a fun time! I love spicy stuff but those rolls look seriously spicy. However, for a headband, picture on a wall and free sake each time I go in with the headband, I would be on it like white on rice.
ReplyDeleteHa that's great!! I would try it! Except... I love spicy tuna, and I wouldn't want to ruin it for myself, ha! Maybe all ten rolls... not all at once! :D
ReplyDeleteThat's my grandson, what else can I say. He's always up for a challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm super impressed! I would never do this, I'm such a wimp with spicy things. Good for him! I hope he wears that headband proudly!
ReplyDelete