On Wednesday, August 27th, at Salem Harbor Power Station in Salem, Ma, 12 contestants assembled to face off in the 1st Annual Hot Wing Challenge. How did this happen?
It all started with a phone call from the foreman to Fred S. ( a long time member of The Hot Sauce Blog and Hot Sauce Collector) about a week before the BBQ. He was putting together a BBQ for the plant and asked if Fred would do a Hot Wing Contest at his BBQ. There was not very much time before the BBQ was going to take place so Fred called on a few people to help out. A committee was quickly put together by Charlie M. and the pieces quickly began to fall into place. For the contest it was decided to use the Defcon Contest Rules, why reinvent the wheel? Thank you to the Creator! Posters went out. T shirts were ordered. A sign-up sheet was posted and 12 contestants stepped forward. Three judges were needed, no problem. Something was still missing. We needed an independant consultant to make the sauce HOT so a phone call was made to Ed, ChiliHeadEd that is, owner of the RedRum Hot Sauce Company. Was he available to help ? The answer was YES.
On Wednesday the 27th of August preparations began early in the morning for the big day, the tables were set up, wings were pre cooked by Fred using his special recipe on the grill and the contest sauce was prepared. The Salem Power Plant has a Proprietary BBQ Sauce – FITZ’nfred’s Powerhouse (Habanero) BBQ Sauce. Fitz and Fred Both Have Big Gardens and Grow a lot of Habaneros for their sauce. It was taken up to Contest level with the addition of Mad Dog 357 5 million scoville extract, CaJohn’s Black Mamba and RedRum Special Reserve with 16 Million Crystals! Let’s just say it was Hot, Damn Hot, F…in Hot, Blow your face off Hot!….yet it still tasted good!
The contest was scheduled for High Noon…I think I just heard some Clint Eastwoodesque whistling….
The 12 Contestants line up behind the tables and 10 wings drenched in explosively hot sauce are placed in front of each contestant, “Evacuation Receptacles” as The Defcon Creator would so succinctly refer to them are judiciously placed around the perimeter. The judges speak to the contestants, preparing them for the pain to follow, warning any with medical issues to beware, reviewing the rules etc. over 75 fellow Salem Harbor Plant workers gather around to witness the carnage and Charlie M, the timekeeper says GO!
Congratulations Rick “Junk Yard Dog” G.!
Written by ChileHeadEd
Nick Lindauer founded Hot Sauce Blog in 2004, making it one of the internet's very first hot sauce review sites. After 20+ years of tasting, reviewing, and attending every major fiery foods event in the country, he's back behind the keyboard covering the hot sauce world he helped build.
39 responses to “First Annual Salem Harbor Station Hot Wing Challenge”
Will the previous comments be posted? Glad to have you back
I have a strange feeling of Deja Vu…..
Hello Ed 😀
Junk Yard Dog has nothing to say?
so, Where is the Dog? Where is Robbie D?
: Comment by Junk Yard dog (1) – 9/13/2008 @ 8:27 am | [ Quote ]
Robbie D. your the best. Sorry you wasn`t there for the all the fun. The only competition I had was from the girl that beat you in the last challenge we had.
No reason to down grade the event because you were not there.
So, tonight we had another company event. JYD wore his winning T shirt.As we were standing there, the northeast regional manager recognized him from the article & Pics in the company intranet. He came over and said”Junk Yard Dog,Congradulations on your win!” They talked for 10 minutes about the chicken wing challenge. Where was Defcon Deathmatch winner Robbie D?
Who was waering the Defcon ensemble?
That was me, fred, promoting your sauces. We had samples there for the guests to try. I love condition 1, just got DM, and collect hot sauces. Love to set a Defcon deathmatch up in Salem. We can make it work easily. I’m sure ChiliHeadEd would help out. What better place than “The Witch City” at Halloween for a deathmatch?
Can’t keep a good DOG down….
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Sounds great. One problem, I’ll be away Halloween weekend. Thanks for promoting our stuff. Perhaps a Deathmatch during NFL season.
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Let me set the record straight: first, I won a Deathmatch, not a glorified backyard bar-b-q match. Second, I TIED Maryann in the hot wing contest a few weeks back, and YOU bowed out before the end of the match so I beat you. So I am 1-0 against you.
Still undefeated – RobbieD 3-0
https://www.hotsauceblog.com/hotsaucearchives/latest-defcon-deathmatch-winner/
http://www.defconsauces.com/appearances_McLynns.htm
Robbie D – aka- ” BinkY Boy” I havent heard someone whine so much since the kids were in diapers. First you get “BEAT” by a girl. If it was a tie, why did she “WIN”. No offense to the ladys of the group. “Guy Talk” then your time is “BEAT” by a rookie. I think the Junk Yard Dog is gonna take you down like a hooker on a $100 bill. Maybe we”ll have to set up a death match between the both of you. The Junk yard Dog vs. Binky Boy.
Robbie D…..No wonder there is a Staples EASY BUTTON on your office door.
I never bowed out of anything and you know it. We ran out of wings. The two wings left were supposed to be split up, but the both of you hogged them. You never gave me a chance to eat them. The last one was the one you gagged on, remember?
Hey JYD, it was streight 5 million Mad Dog after all. I would expect anyone to react to that.
Chuck, shut up. Eat a wing : )
Junky, a little “aligator-armed” on the reach for the last wing, don’t you think? A little 5 million scared ya?
RobbieD – aka- “Binky Boy”, My My My….Sounds like our little man dident get a nap today……
Judge Chuck… I mean, UPChuck, this blog is for eaters of hot food, not hangers on. You are nothing but a groupie. Saddle up and join us before you do too much talking.
I think Judge Chuck pushed RobbieD’s EASY BUTTON again. That was EASY….Who put the picture on JYD’s locker today?
anyone ever see “Fistfull of Dollars”? Fred is Clint Eastwood – “The Man With No Name”
troublemaker
Troublemaker? Who, me? I never saw the movie either. I’m not sure what you mean RobbieD
Hey “Binky Boy” as a long aas I’m an offical and sponsor of the Salem Harbor Wing contest, I’llbe putting my two cents in. So, mind your place, as in like Last Place.
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Ouch! lol
Last Place? I thought RobbieD was a NO SHOW. Chuck, you are always welcome here. I appreciate all the help you provided to make the Challenge a success.
kristi, this is a rough croud.
Last Place, No Show, First Place Looser, It’s all the same, When the name fits like a glove, You wear it, Like it or not, – Right. Binky Boy……..
Hey Chuck, you in on the next chicken wing challenge? it will be hotter next time too. You face off against RobbieD and JYD. Should be interesting to watch.
Holy Cow !!!
Nice to see some ” spark ” back in the HSB !!! LOL
Hi Kristi !!
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Hi AJ!!!! Long time…….who knew all it takes is a little 5 mill on a wing to liven up the place! We could have done that months ago!
…….on hour number 3 of contractions here at home but I think its false labor….we’ll see when the little chilihead feels like making her appearance! Not due for two more weeks but that doesn’t mean too much……say hi to Sheila!
Kristi : Our 1st Chicken Wing Challenge was awsome but next time I will turn up the heat. The competors here are fierce. ChiliHeadEd mixed up the HEAT for us. I’m sure we will do it again. Congrats on the new “chilihead” soon to be. Glad you joined in on this conversation too. Hi to AJ
fred. When we do the next challenge, I may just saddle up to the table.
It will just be another item to add to my “Stupid Things I’ve Done” list, and yes it’s a long list.
Chuck, I think you need to step up to the plate. Show Rob and JYD how it is done.
So, rumor has it today that RobbieD, of Defcon Deathmatch fame, is changing his name to either “The Dog Catcher’ or “Animal Control Officer” in order to catch the Junk Yard Dawg. Be careful, the “Dawg” is mean. Doesn’t look like any chance of a face off til June or July of 2009 at the next company cook-out. Til then, I guess Dawg is the Salem Harbor Station Champ.
Whooooa, Hold on fred. People dont get to change there name for something they say there going to do. You can talk the talk, but you have to walk the talk. So, Binky Boy is Binky Boy,1st place no show fame.
I think the committee will hold a meeting in January 09 to come up with a date for the second annual Salem Harbor Chicken Wing Challenge. We will post the date early next year. This way, everyone will know in advance and can plan their trips out of town accordingly. Rumor has it the “Dawg” is going to retire “undefeated” as he says.
Junky IS defeated, he is 1-1, I am 3-0. He got the alligator arms when maryann and I ate straight 5 million Maddog.
Isn’t it funny that the “Dawg” couldn’t eat the maddog!!!
Wheels says you must be a toy poodle
Robbie D. ….. Fred is playing you for a fool.
I`m trying to put a stop to all this trash talk and he keeps adding to the fire. All I wanted was to beat him and I did that easily.
Why don`t you just let sleeping “Dawgs” lie.
Don`t worry…..I`ll be there for the next contest…… so keep on practicing
at home. You`re gonna have to knock off, at least, a minute off your best time to beat me.