New Bedford Smashed Box Challenge Tests Your Limits

The body count at Smashed NB in New Bedford has climbed to nearly 200 brave souls, and not a single one has conquered the infamous Hot Chicken Challenge, now going strong for over a week.

While a handful of contenders have made it to four or even five tenders, most have surrendered after just a bite or two. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this challenge is no joke, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

On Wednesday, April 9, Fun 107 went live on location to raise the stakes.

In addition to the $2,700 cash prize, the station tossed in a pair of Mary J. Blige tickets for her upcoming show at TD Garden with NE-YO and Mario, plus the holy grail: free Smashed NB for life (one meal per week).

Now, I don’t know about you, but that prize package sounds pretty sweet.

The only catch? It was a one-hour-only promotion. Sadly, even with all that on the line, no one could take down six Carolina Reaper-coated chicken tenders.

But the heat isn't cooling down just yet.

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During our live broadcast, owner Brandon Sadeck and chef Rafael Flores surprised me with a sneak peek at their next food gauntlet, debuting Thursday, April 10. It's called the "Smashed Box Challenge," and while it dials back the heat, it doubles – if not triples – the portion size of the original challenge.

We’re talking four pounds of food crammed into an overstuffed pizza box. Yes, I weighed it myself.

Gazelle/Townsquare Media

Do you think you and a friend could win The Smashed Box Challenge?

Teams of 2 people will compete in a 10 team head-to-head race. The fastest team to finish their Smashed Box takes home $300 in cash

Entry fee is $60 per team.

Whatever food you don't finish, will be allowed to take home with you; and unlike the Hot Chicken Challenge, drinks WILL be allowed.

They will have different time slots available for the competition. Come into Smashed NB or message them on their Facebook page to sign up.

The SouthCoast Hot Wing Project

WBSM's Tim Weisberg and his son Adam spent six months touring the SouthCoast area from New Bedford to Fall River to Dartmouth to Norton and beyond, trying some of the supposed hottest wings around – and also gave some other unique wing flavors a shot, too. Sadly, not all of them are still around, but the project lives on in spicy infamy.

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg

All Aboard the South Shore Bar Pizza Train

One of the benefits of the new South Coast Rail commuter train connection New Bedford to Boston is that there are 11 good South Shore Bar Pizza stops en route.

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg

The Best of South Shore Bar Pizza

There's pizza, and then there's South Shore Bar Pizza. Birthed in Brockton (and to this writer, perfected in Randolph – Lynwood Café is the true G.O.A.T.), it must meet certain qualifications to be considered "SSBP," which include: it's a 10-inch pie; it has a thin, cracker-like crust with minimal "flop;" the cheese is a blend that features more cheddar than mozzarella; and bonus points if you take it home between two carboard-type plates wrapped in flat brown paper bag. They also usually come with "laced" or "burnt" edges (terminology depends on where you are ordering), which is when the sauce and cheese are extended all the way to the edge of the pan, creating a crispy, flavorful coating to the crust. We reached out to the hugely popular South Shore Bar Pizza Social Club Facebook group to ask the experts to share the best of the best (in no particular order).

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg

Categories: Articles, Food, Local Stuff