Unleash The Beast
Always one for celebrating milestones in company and rising to a dare, it's not surprising I landed in the thick of the 2016 Mad Mex Big Burrito (1kg) Challenge launch party and Cinco de Mayo fiesta on my birthday.
By the time I walked into the Zetland Mad Mex, a party atmosphere was spilling onto the sidewalks. The air was filled with an enthusiastic buzz. Any reservations I may have had about entering the challenge were replaced by a need to participate in the crazy fun. After a quick conference between me and my plus one, we both signed up to "unleash the beast".
Those wondering what type of burrito competitors are required to eat will be pleased to know that each 1kg burrito is built to your liking just as if you were eating a normal sized Mad Mex burrito. I had to make choices over spiciness, meat, and whether I wanted cheese, sour cream and guacamole.
Once the challenge registration was completed, we were each given a huge white bib with a number on it and invited inside to party till the contest began.
Frozen margaritas and bottles of Corona were on hand for revellers. Platters of corn chips and guacamole and other delicious Baja-Mexican style dishes complemented the beverages. Brash dance tracks from the DJ desk shook up the room with their lively spirit.
It was hard not to fill up on the refreshing margaritas and snacks. In the end I made an executive decision that we should just do our best with the challenge.
Participation and enjoyment would be our primary concern even if that meant missing out on one of the authentic wrestler masks made in Mexico and shipped over by Mad Mex especially for the 2016 Big Burrito Challenge. We had the low down from the Marketing Manager that there are five different animal themed masks to compete for (the eagle for week one and the others will be revealed week by week). We were also informed of the extra special masks Mad Med club members could compete for.
While I was reaching my participation vs winning epiphany, a big bell was rung to indicate the start of challenge proceedings. Contestants for Round 1 (had a number 1 on their bibs) were grouped together around the challenge table. The MC lay down the rules: 15 minutes to eat all of the burrito in one sitting.
A big clanging of the bell rang out again, the DJ threw to "Eye of The Eye" then the eating began. Some went into frenzied stuffing while others had a neat eating style. Cheering filled the room and the music rolled into "Pump Up The Jam". A fun, enthusiastic vibe overtook the room. We clapped the challengers on. The boisterous atmosphere was contagious and passersby even stopped to see what was going on.
One guy was noticeably in front. At the five minute mark a winner was declared. Second and third came in not far behind and after the full 15 minutes just about everyone had finished. A couple of young boys determinedly finished even though they had gone beyond the time limit - all competitors received an eagle mask.
Partying continued and then it was time for Round 2. Me and the plus one were called up. The MC introduced each competitor to the crowd, went over the rules, and as a final word before we could begin, announced it was my birthday and asked me to stand up.
Loud singing of happy birthday reverberated around the room while I blushed a very deep shade of red. I didn't realise I could get that embarrassed these days. All this was a good diversion for any second thoughts I may have had about competing.
Once birthday formalities were dealt with, stirring music cut in at high volume. The bell rang out to signal us to commence eating. Off we went. I tried to keep tidy and neat. It was delicious but then I got to a point that I realised just how much food I had to get through. Everyone around me was finishing up, some really early on, others later but within the 15 minutes (#bigburritofame). In the end I just stopped as I didn't want to go too far. I took a selfie with the unfinished burrito and posted it on instagram with the comment #bigburritofail.
Everyone who competed felt a sense of relief when they finished, or in my case gave up. In the spirit of rewarding participation, me and the plus one received eagle masks too. We were just thankful to know our limit. The knowledge I had given it a go and had fun on my birthday was enough for me.
It is very safe to say that the launch of the 2016 Mad Mex Big Burrito Challenge on 3 May went off with a bang. The Challenge is for five weeks. It is open to all visitors to Mad Mex across Australia till 5 June 2016.
My words of wisdom for those taking on the challenge are to have fun, know your limit, and don't forget to use your hashtags #bigburritofame or #bigburritofail on social media to show your result. Good luck to all who "unleash the beast".
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