PASCO, Wash. – The Summer’s Hub in Pasco turned up the heat with its first spice challenge, the “Last Mouth Standing Challenge,” inviting community members to test their spice tolerance.
The challenge featured several levels of increasingly hot food items. Six contestants participated, eager to determine who could handle the most spice.
“I’m kind of excited to challenge myself a little bit. I want to see what my limits are,” said Cooper Femreite with Pasco Fire and EMT.
The event, organized by Summer’s Hub, showcased food from local food trucks outside the hub, highlighting the diverse offerings available in the area.
“This is a great event to kind of tell people, ‘hey, this is what they have to offer.’ And you may not know what all they have on the menu. And so I think that’s the best part of it,” said City Councilman Leo Perales, who finished third in the event.
Elliot Brown, one of the contestants, described the event as “unregrettable.”
“The food was really good,” he said. “Everything was very spicy, and I’m looking forward to doing it again. I lived in Thailand for a little bit, so I’ve had a lot of spicy food. They do the hot ones challenge, and they do a kit where you can do it at home. So, I’ve done it with my team a bunch of times.”
Femreite admitted he doesn’t handle spice well but saw the event as an opportunity to engage with Pasco residents.
“I saw an opportunity for me to kind of, you know, show my face to the Pasco residents and a little bit more. See what my mental strength is, because I’m sure I’m going to surpass how much spice I can handle,” he said.
Femreite and Brown were the last two standing in the challenge. Femreite decided to donate his prize of $100 in gift cards to the Boys and Girls Club on behalf of Pasco Fire and EMT.
Brown shared his experience as the challenge progressed.
“At a certain spice level, you like hear a sound, and then your eyes start twitching. And then after a little while, your stomach, it hurts, then it doesn’t hurt. Then it starts hurting again. I’ve got a good four hours in me, before the rest of my day is very confined to a single room in my house,” he said.
Summer’s Hub plans to host the spice challenge multiple times a year, with the next event anticipated in the spring.
