The challenge at Tweeters Chicken Crib doesn’t really test sheer quantity or speed, it tests endurance. And maybe crazy. No, not “maybe”, it definitely tests crazy.
Hot wings are not an unknown entity. There was a time when hot wings were the only appetizer on the planet for me, a seasoned veteran of the hottest sauces at Roosters or BW3. For what it’s worth, Mac’s in the Short North had an outstandingly brutal version at the time.
The wings featured at Tweeters are something altogether different. The sauce is called “Devils Breath” — made with ghost peppers (similar to Mikey’s Fiery Death Pizza). Guests have to sign a liability waiver to order it.
The wall of Tweeters serves as a warning. By the looks of it, one person has completed the challenge of finishing off six wings. Fifty-two people have failed.
It’s still worth a theoretical try: and an order of the wings (a small order of five wings is $4.99) and a signing of the form. It started with a teeny, bitty, nibble of the skin… and done: totally wussed out.
For that choice nibble, my mouth was on fire for ten minutes. A tiny, little dab on the front of the tongue sent an inferno sweeping through my palate like Sherman through Atlanta. Afterwards, there was random coughing, and worse yet, the contact lens aftermath lay in wait.
Despite a thorough, obsessive washing of the hands with dishwashing detergent, the horrible hot oil infected my fingers and hence contact lenses. Those who like hot wings, and wear contact lenses, know exactly how it feels the next morning.
Should you decide to attempt to consume this particular sauce, there are a couple of other things worth noting: 1) It’s disturbingly blood red; and 2) It smells about as hot and spicy as any hot wing sauce-the aroma doesn’t really forewarn of unprecedented discomfort.
You can find Tweeters and Devil’s Breath sauce at 5927 Karric Square Dr.
More information can be found online at www.tweeterswings.com.