Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Competitive Eaters Hospitalized After "Killer" Curry Contest
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Oct 6, 2011
Modified Oct 6, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Oct 6, 2011
Modified Oct 6, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Ah, the thrill of competitive eating—the wind gusting through your hair as your shovel ungodly amounts of calories down your gullet, the public waiting for that glorious moment when you finally puke—it's the stuff of great novels and riveting reality television. Unless, instead of glory, you end up in the hospital after a disastrous spicy curry-eating contest for charity.
Two eaters were hospitalized over the weekend following a spicy curry contest at Kismot Indian restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland. The "Kismot Killer" curry (described by the restaurant as "a top secret nuclear strength recipe using some of the worlds hottest chillies") left 21-year-old American exchange student Curie Kim writhing: "It was very painful and felt like I was being chainsawed in the stomach with hot sauce on the chainsaw," she told BBC. Kim, it should be noted, came in second (loser), while the winner "ate the last bowl in four seconds and then ran outside to be sick," the way champions do.
Following the competition, the Scottish Ambulance Service had to be called in because two of the contestants had such violent reactions to the curry. The restaurant said they had eaters sign a waiver before chowing down, but hey, it was for a good cause. Kim, perhaps unsurprisingly, disagrees: "I don't think the restaurant should do it any more as I think there are a lot less painful ways to raise money for charity," she said. Which is true—at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, Phaal Challenge winners compete only for themselves: the prize is pride, glory and a free beer.
Tagged
brick lane curry house
competitve eating
curry
dumb
spicy food
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .