Coco's Tacos Taqueria Spicy Tacos Challenge Eagle Point, Oregon
Coco’s Tacos Taqueria is offering a blazing hot food challenge! The rules are simple: If you can devour six tacos slathered in hot sauce made with three of the world’s hottest peppers in under two minutes AND endure a six minute after-burn without relief from liquid refreshments you will get the meal for free, receive a Coco’s Tacos Taqueria tee shirt, and have your picture mounted on their wall of fame for all the world to see!
Call me crazy but I just can’t resist a food challenge.
I stopped at Little Butte Market to purchase a quart of milk as I made my way to Coco’s Tacos Taqueria. Some people impulsively drink water after they eat food rich in capsaicin, a chemical irritant present in chili peppers. This is the wrong approach because water merely disperses the capsaicin, it doesn’t neutralize it like milk does. I learned a long time ago that milk is my ally where spicy foods are concerned.
When I arrived at the taco stand I informed the counter person that I was there to take on the spicy tacos challenge. I have experience with spicy food challenges and I have eaten a Carolina Reaper before. I wasn’t afraid of the heat. I also was confident that I could eat each taco in 20 seconds.
The spicy tacos seemed to be ready for me too because within moments of ordering them, a waitress brought two plates containing six tacos out to the table I had been seated at.
I tore into the tacos without hesitation. However right away I knew that I had a problem: I couldn’t swallow. I knew I had precious little time to finish the challenge so I began chipmunking. I just started cramming the tacos into my mouth, desperately hoping that I could force the tacos down my gullet.
That strategy failed. In two minutes I managed to swallow three tacos. By this time my throat was on fire, as were my lips, and mucus was flowing freely out of my nose. Even my eyes were burning. I’ve never been in such pain before. After the time ran out the first thing I did was chug that quart of milk that I brought with me. It was the nectar of the gods in that moment. It’s a real shame that I lost the challenge.
However I regret nothing! The tacos were delicious and I actually didn’t feel the heat from them until I stopped chewing. I just wish that I could have swallowed the food faster. The time limit is insane! In order to eat six tacos in two minutes I would have had to practically swallow them whole! I just couldn’t do it.
The nice young lady who was working that day took my picture anyway and pinned it to a framed document that describes the rules of the spicy tacos challenge. Even though I lost the challenge I have achieved glory anyhow.
I can always come back for a rematch. Perhaps someday I will. Right now it hurts to sit down so I definitely need a break from excessively piquant foods. I love Coco’s Tacos Taqueria. They serve up the best Mexican food that I have ever had!