My Life in Meals

Bricklane Curry House - Phaal Challenge

If you read my blog, you know I am insane about spicy food. I just can’t put enough hot sauce, sriracha, chili powder, jalapenos, etc on everything I eat. Two years ago, I saw an episode of Man vs. Food with my fiance and we vowed we would try it. On this particular episode, shot in New York City, Adam Richman visit’s Brick Lane Curry House to take on the Phaal Challenge. His challenge was to eat “the spiciest curry in the world” (so they proclaim). Watch the chef prepare the curry with a gas mask (yes, it’s that hot!) and Richman do the challenge in excruciating pain here.

After much time had passed we finally ended up going to their newer location midtown. The waitress brought out our menus, and we scanned them for the challenge dish. The phaal, as described on the menu, is “an excruciatingly hot curry, more pain and sweat than flavor. For our customers who do this on a dare, we will require you to state a verbal disclaimer not holding us liable for any physical or emotional damage after eating this curry”.

So we ordered two, I got the chicken and my fiance the lamb. Our sweet waitress look worried and distressed, and asked us about 3 times if we were sure we wanted to do it. Of course we were sure, we’re no sissy’s - bring it on!!!

The phaal came and it looked pretty nondescript - your average curry dish, maybe a bit darker in color then most. So we dug in on the count of three. My fiance took one bite and said no way in hell is he eating that. It was so hot I wanted to cry, but that’s the thing about people who are addicted to spicy food. We have what I like to call “spicy food egos”, always trying to one up each other on how much heat we can take. I knew at that moment I just HAD to finish it!

They let you have lassi and yogurt if you need it, although I tried not to fill my stomach up on that stuff. One hour later, after feeling like my insides were slowly being tortured, my lips turning Angelina Jolie big, and wanting to pull my hair out - I finally finished it!!! The waitress even said I was one of the first girls she has seen finish the challenge. In reward for my masochism, I received a free Kingfisher beer, a certificate proclaiming that I am officially a “curry monster”, and a picture on their website.