New Hot Sauce Expo Allows Chicagoans To Sample the World’s Hottest Pepper and More | Eater Chicago

"This stadium in suburban Bridgeview will host the inaugural Chi Town Hot Sauce Expo June 23–24, featuring about 40 hot sauce makers from around the world and plenty of samples. Organized by High River Sauces (which ran a similar Brooklyn event), the expo includes extreme attractions such as a Carolina Reaper pepper eating contest observed by Guinness Book of World Records representatives, a spicy chicken-wing eating contest, taco, hot dog and deep-dish pizza challenges, and a Chihuahua beauty pageant. Attendees can try spicy cocktails and novelty food items with names like “The Italian Beef Sandwich of Destruction” and “The Slaytanic Burrito,” while international vendors from New Zealand, England and Australia join U.S. makers; sponsors and partners include Fuego Box and Puckerbutt Pepper Company. Ticket options range from $10 general admission to $40 packages with barbecue and beer, up to $100 VIP passes that include backstage access, unlimited food and cocktails, and swag." - Ashok Selvam