Holy habanero!

He used a napkin to dry his pink face. It was Harris’ first of many burgers to come this week as the third annual corporate Habanero Burger Eating Challenge at the Prince of Wales Pub in San Mateo. The competition kicked off Monday and runs until 10 p.m. Friday night. Companies can come in and eat as many burgers as possible during the week in an effort to be named the Hottest Company.

Harris, 43, began eating the burgers years before the challenge became official. RSA Security, the company for which Harris works, uses the uniquely hot burgers as a sort of initiation when new employees come to work. When the regulars heard about the competition they decided to get in on the act. Last year, the 50-person company came in fourth against Electronic Arts, which has thousands and workers and was the winner two years running.

There are no limit to how many people can be on a team as long as the person works for the company, said Jack Curry, owner of Prince of Wales Pub.

The idea for such a spicy burger came after years of chili cookoffs and playing with different peppers. In 1992, Curry sat around with about a dozen regulars with the idea of creating a new spicy burger. He wanted to do a few taste tests. He made a number of burgers varying in spiciness giving each taster a sliver and asking for feedback. When the reactions came back from the habanero burger, Curry knew he had something special.

The sauce is made with a special kind of red savino habanero pepper two times hotter than any pepper found in stores.

A jalapeno, for example, is 5,000 scoville units — which measures the spice factor. The orange habanero sold in stores boasts 300,000 scoville units. The peppers Curry uses are 570,000 scoville units.

"There’s about a 10-second count when someone reacts to it. You can almost count one, two, three, four ... nine, 10 is when the heat hits them. The first few seconds they’re enjoying the flavor. When you reach 10 it’s like, Holy!” he said.

A waiver is required just to give the burger a go. Those doubting they should take on the challenge can give the sauce a taste by ordering a firecracker — a cracker topped with the sauce. Most people who finish the $10 burger follow it up with an ice cream sandwich because the milk eases the burning mouth syndrome.

Interestingly, the man responsible for such a hot burger, isn’t a fan of spicy food. He’s tried the sauce but never attempted the burger.

Anyone who finishes the burger takes home a "I survived the Habanero Burger,” bumper sticker. Anyone who doesn’t finish becomes part of the "Perry Percentile,” a group named after the very first customer who didn’t finish the challenge. In general, about one-third of those attempting the sandwich on a dare fail to finish, said Curry.

So far in one sitting, no one ate more than six burgers. During last year’s competition, one of the RSA Security team members set the record for most burgers consumed in a day when he ate nine. But the overall trophy for most burgers ate goes to San Carlos resident Richard Whiteley. Whiteley not only ate the first official habanero burger but has since consumed more than 400.

The expert habanero burger eater explained people take a couple of approaches to surviving the spice.

"There’s the Great White approach. You know, where they tear off a hunk and swallow it. Others are slow and just nibble,” he said.

But for Whiteley, the best advice to a first timer is to chew up a couple of french fries before digging in. This prevents the sauce from sneaking into the mouth’s nooks and crannies.

The Prince of Wales Pub, 106 E. 25th Ave., San Mateo.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.

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