CHILLI CHAMPS CHOMP GREAT BOWLS OF FIRE
CHILLI-LOVER Al Stoddart was ready to guzzle down his fifth bowl of flaming hot chilli con carne last night.
That’s when his competitors in the El Diabolo Challenge held by resturant The Pickled Cactus lost their nerve.
It was almost as though Sean Harcourt-Bell and Jake Lucky could see the Banora Point man’s steely resolve and iron gut.
They didn’t want to risk being wheeled into the ambulance which had been called in to watch over the event. The challenge at the Biggera Waters restaurant is for competitors to eat their way through increasingly spicy bowls of the stew. The last person standing is the victor.
And Mr Stoddart, a 39-year-old electrician, was that person.
“Mate, I think they saw me powering through (my bowls) and realised I could eat all night so they pulled the pin,” Mr Stoddart said.
“It’s not very often you’re on fire – but tonight I was on fire.”
Mr Stoddart said winning the competition, and a $100 gift voucher, had been a lifetime in the making.
“Mum used to spice our Dominos pizzas with chilli oil, so I’ve just always loved chilli,” he said.
“But I tell you what, I reckon I only had one more round of chilli in me though.
“I had the best tasting bowl of ice cream in my life after the competition.”