Killer heat

There's a Brighton burger. Nine million Scoville units. Whatever they are. I take it that means it's a proper fiery little blighter. 3,000 brave people have signed a disclaimer and taken up the challenge. Only fifty nine have reached the finishing post. Several have ended up in hospital.

The Brighton (Hove, Actually) Burger

The Brighton super hot burger. Eat in, and they issue you with those blue rubber gloves.

In Edinburgh, the Kismot Killer hasn't actually killed anyone, but has had two admitted to hospital. The runner up in the hot curry eating contest said, on the way to A&E, that it was like being chainsawed in the stomach, with hot chilli sauce on the chainsaw blades. The paramedics, with all the good humour they're known for, said the curry contest needs looking at. By blokes with high viz vests and clipboards, no doubt.

It's not a good sign when the waiter's wearing protective clothing.

Signing a disclaimer is one thing, but having an ambulance on stand by is another. Again, there's no shortage of willing contenders queueing up to have a go at the dish. There is a much shorter roll of honour listing those that have succeeded.

I don't mind a bit of mild pain and a hotter than average dish now and again, but searing heat, agony, hallucinations and a night in casualty aren't really what a good meal is all about.

Third on the hot-list is a burger sandwiched between some deep-fried pizza slices and drenched in a special hot sauce, and served with chilli chips. Where the Brighton burger and the Kismot Killer depend on a high concentration of searing heat, the pizza-burger stack is more of a blunt instrument, defeating diners by quantity as much as by concentrated heat.