Peachtree City’s newest food craze is Dave’s Hot Chicken, which opened in Fischer Marketplace Feb. 20. It’s the talk of the town at McIntosh High School. Their chicken and famous “Dave’s Sauce” have gained traction with the student body, but there is one specific menu item everyone is wondering about: can they handle the Reaper?
Standing at 2,000,000 Scoville heat units, the Reaper is not something to mess with. Named after the Carolina Reaper pepper, Dave’s hottest level is roughly 250 times spicier than a jalapeño. To put that in perspective, a standard jalapeño averages only 8,000 Scoville units. For McIntosh students, this has turned into a challenge of spice tolerance.
The pain inflicted by the infamous Reaper is no secret. Customers even have to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks before buying it.
“It’s crazy how you have to sign a waiver before eating it,” freshman Cade Johnson said.
Dave’s Hot Chicken makes sure consumers know what they’re getting into by making them sign a form to acknowledge the risks.
“I had a firsthand experience with it,” freshman Kenzi Padgett said. “My friend ate the Reaper and then drank two gallons of milk. He kinda like died,”
Even with the extreme consequences, students remain determined to try it.
“They know they’re going to be in pain,” sophomore Alyssa Benton said.
So why are people even doing this? The answer is a mix of “stupid teen fun” and financial motivation. With the waiver, people know exactly what they are buying into, leading some students to question the logic behind the trend.
“I’ve seen people cry and really suffer from this,” sophomore Emory Euliano said. “People who do this [challenge] have no intelligence in their head.”
Chiefette dancer Lauren Hill shares a similar opinion.
“I think the challenge is kind of stupid,” shesaid.
However, these warnings haven’t stopped thrill-seeking McIntosh students from attempting the feat, sometimes with regrettable results.
“I did it for 10 bucks. I threw up six times, then I lost the 10 bucks by accident,” sophomore Daniel Smith said.
Fortunately, spicy food isn’t the only thing on the menu. Dave’s Hot Chicken features seven different spice levels: No Spice, Light Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper. Their offerings range from mozzarella sticks to milkshakes, and of course, the Dave’s Sauce.
Whether you’re in the mood for a dangerous challenge or just a solid meal, you can visit their newest location at 4957 E Hwy 34, Ste 700, Sharpsburg, GA 30277.
“I can really dig into some Dave’s Sauce right now,” freshman Oliver King said.
