The Shack Attack

The Pizza Shack
4523 Summer Avenue
Memphis, TN 38122
(901) 680-7900

One of my goals of writing this blog is to uncover hot dishes, sauces, spices and anything else surrounding hot food to include restaurant heat challenges. Eating challenges aren't new to me. I have tried a few over the years, but never one that tests my heat tolerance. Memphis lacks heat challenges but the more I write this blog, the more I uncover from around the city. Consuming hot food is on the rise and more places are catching on to the trend. Stacey Greenberg, who writes Dining With Monkeys and Fertile Ground, told me about a challenge at The Pizza Shack off Summer Ave that sounded right up my alley.

Named the "En Fuego", this challenge consists of consuming an entire 10" pizza topped with more ingredients that even the toughest of chili heads would quiver over. Instead of using a pizza sauce, The Pizza Shack pours on a special, secret blend of hot sauces. It is then topped with chicken, onions, red pepper, jalapenos, habaneros and Dave's Insanity Sauce. After contacting The Pizza Shack via their Facebook page to let them know they had a new contestant, my brother, nephews and I finally made our way out there last week.

Located in the Lowes parking lot off Perkins and Sam Cooper lies this shack of a pizza joint. We walked in and placed our orders with the kind owners, introduced myself, and then took our seats. My brother ordered a large pepperoni for the boys which was on a $9.99 special for the day. I anxiously ordered the En Fuego and then we took our seats. The pepperoni came out first and it looked outstanding. The boys tore into it. I tried a small piece, saving my appetite for the 10 inches of pain I was about to endure. It was a great tasting pizza that I wanted more of but I knew I soon would have my work cut out for me. After waiting just a little longer, the En Fuego arrived.

I was warned that I would not be allowed to get up for anything, which was the only rule explained to me. There was no time or beverage limit. My brother began rolling the video (posted below) and I began the challenge. My plan was to consume it as fast as I could, not thinking about the next bite. 3 pieces in, the hiccups began. I knew that if I couldn't control them, I would be toast. After a few deep breaths, I was able to keep them away and I continued the pursuit. I was taken back on the flavor of the pizza. It was actually really good despite the insane amount of heat. After I was half way through, the heat from the pizza coming straight out of the oven began to blend with the heat from the sauce and peppers. This was an odd sensation new to me and it made my entire mouth numb. Sweat then began to appear all over my head, more because of nervousness I now believe. Upon having only 2 pieces left, I felt full and it was difficult to swallow with a numb mouth. Nonetheless, I continued and got to my last piece when my brother said I had to finish all the peppers off the plate. Much appreciated, bro! Thanks for reminding me! :-/ This piece appeared to have more sauce than the rest and I was getting slightly queasy. I put the remaining peppers on the crust and somehow finished the slice without running to the bathroom. I completed the En Fuego in about 7.5 minutes which has to be a record. I was told that I am the first to complete it under new ownership who has beefed it up quite a bit from the older, more forgiving En Fuego.

The pain in my mouth subsided on the ride home but it quickly spread to my gut. Tums and Pepto were my best friends that evening. I lost some sleep from the multiple times the antacids wore off and it took a day or two to recover. Within that time, I told myself I would never do another heat challenge but as I write this, I can already see myself plotting out the next one! If you're looking for a great pizza at a cheap price, give The Pizza Shack a try. They have free delivery within the local area and some of the best pizzas, subs and challenges in the city!

Bang Bang

Tijuana Flats - Fort Walton Beach, FL
http://www.tijuanaflats.com/

The Florida gulf coast is my favorite place to vacation. I lived in Mobile, AL for over 3 years and took in the gulf culture and way of life during my time there. Another thing I cherished (and miss) there is the food. From Cajun spice to steamed seafood, some dishes are only found in the deep south. I try to visit the area from Destin to Biloxi at least once a year, being that it is only a short road trip away from Memphis. This year was a 5 day vacation to Fort Walton Beach that we wished to have been longer.

Laura and I packed out bags and made the 8 hour drive south to our Seacrest condo directly on the beach. 3 weeks earlier, my brother took his family to the exact same area and found a Mexican restaurant inland, closer to downtown Fort Walton, called Tijuana Flats. This Tex-Mex joint isn't anything related to the gulf coast but it surely is something that we lack in Memphis. After hearing him rave over the great prices and the hot sauce bar, I knew we had to pay them a visit. We decided on our first night that Tex-Mex sounded pretty good after the journey down from Memphis.

Tijuana Flats is a chain that is found all over the east coast with several locations in Florida. I looked up their website on my phone and was tickled by the colors and graphics. I knew it would be a fun experience before stepping foot in the place. We found it in an old Burger King which wasn't your typical Mexican-type sit down restaurant where you munch on free salsa and sip on pitchers of margaritas. On the contrary, however, it was no Taco Bell. You place your order, go find a seat and they bring it to you when it's ready. Upon placing our order, I noticed their huge craft beer selection and ordered a beer only found at brew festivals back home. Laura then noticed their "Bangin' Choices" on the menu which are meals that tossed in their "Smack My Ass Bangin' Chicken Sauce". The chicken burrito would be my choice and we placed our order.

Upon walking to our table out on the patio, we passed the hot sauce bar. I stopped dead in my tracks and marveled at the huge assortment of hot sauces, free to add to your meal. After picking my jaw up off the floor, I made my way to the bar and began testing various sauces. I found some to be very sweet with no heat, some to be vinagery with a mild punch and others to be pasty thick with a super hot kick. I found 4 worthy of trying with the burrito, pumped them in to separate small paper cups and took them to the table. Our meals were delivered shortly after sitting down and I began to see what the hype was all about. I was instantly taken back by the flavor of the chicken in the large burrito. It was extremely good but it wasn't smacking my ass just yet. I then began trying the different sauces, starting with the sweet ones and ending with the hottest. I found the "Green Ghost" sauce to be awesome but more mild than advertised. I then tried my favorite of the night, the "Pyro-Mania", which is a blend of habaneros and chipotle peppers. The heat from the habs blended awesome with the smoke from the chipotles and I ended up going back for more. I finished off my huge burrito, pouring Pyro-Mania over every bite, and then wiped the sweat off my chili head.

Before we left, I was told that they have a heat challenge where the brave contestant has to eat numerous drops of their hottest sauce on a tortilla chip. The current record for the Fort Walton location is 51 drops. As we finished our beers, they started closing up the restaurant. I told Laura that we should come back for the challenge toward the end of our vacation but sadly, we never had the time. Hopefully this becomes a yearly vacation for us and if so, I vow to become the record holder for that challenge! In the mean time, I will prepare and suggest that any Florida vacationers try and find a Tijuana Flats near them!

Kickin Chicken Tenders Recipe

Here is a quick and easy way to light up your fried chicken tenders. Use this flour batter for tenders, wings, split breasts or anything else that you like to fry. Recipe is per pound of meat.

*1 pound chicken tenders
*1/2 cup flour
*1 teaspoon cayenne, habanero or ghost pepper powder (in order of heat levels)
*1 teaspoon chili powder
*1/2 teaspoon black pepper
*1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
*1 cup buttermilk

Rinse and dry chicken. Place in sealable container. Add buttermilk then place in refrigerator and let soak for an hour. In another sealable container that is dry, mix the flour, pepper powder, chili powder, black pepper and garlic salt. Add soaked chicken to container, seal and shake generously. Rinse and dry first container then place battered chicken back in it. Let sit in the refrigerator again for half an hour. In this time, heat the oil in a deep fryer up to 350 degrees. Deep fry chicken for about 8 minutes or until chicken is golden brown. Serve with fries, ranch dressing and/or wing sauce!