Last night Art, Art’s nephew Michael, my wife and I headed all the way up to Brooklyn Park to Girvan Grille for their legendary Ghost Wing Challenge. As many of you know, Art and I have been slowly working our way up to this by attempting to eat anything and everything possible to prepare for this event.
After some recommendations were given by readers on the best place for hot wings, we tried Babe’s in Lakeville and found the wings to be tasteless and not anywhere near spicy. Then we decided that the best solution would be to come up with our own hot wings and they were definitely spicy although probably not as hot as we needed for this. I even went solo and tried grilling habaneros and eating the “habanero” wings at LS Pizza Shack in Burnsville and while the grilled habs were spicy, the wings were nothing more than plain old Buffalo style (to which my mild mannered wife even remarked that they may be “medium”).
Situated in the middle of Edinburgh USA’s clubhouse in Brooklyn Park, Girvan Grille is a bit more upscale than what you’d expect would be hosting a wing eating challenge. But with Restaurant Manager Jon Fehrmann looking to bring in a wider clientele and Executive Chef Jim Malinowski looking to light people’s tongues on fire with a touch of real class, they devised the Ghost Wings Challenge–a 15 minute rampage of your all your senses which leaves you reeling from the pain in numerous ways, except your taste buds.
The wings came out and were beautifully prepared. I was a bit surprised at how temperature hot they were and that we were given almost no time before the clock started to tick on our 15 minutes of flame (sorry, couldn’t resist). We were told that regardless of how fast we eat them, we had to wait the full 15 minutes before we could eat, drink, or cleanup. Being that they were so very hot, we took our time as not to burn our mouths anymore than the wings already would.
The wings themselves had some excellent sweet flavor along with the blazing Scoville heat. We were told ahead of time that the recipe includes all homemade ingredients and no extracts. Recently it has evolved a bit to include fresh habaneros because, as the chef later told us, he wanted some fresh pepper flavor to go along with the dried ghost peppers which is the only way he can get them here in MN (something which I have found as well). The wings were an absolute delight to eat and while it took us nearly the entire 15 minutes to get them down, I must admit that I have never enjoyed eating a hot wing as much as I did on this night.
Before, during, and after, various staff members including the executive chef (seen above in the video) came out to give words of encouragement as several there have eaten them as well. The executive chef told us that he routinely eats his creation, something which I must admit makes me extremely jealous but shows that he knows what he’s serving. After the challenge we were kindly escorted to the bathrooms to wash up before our pictures were taken for the wall of flame. We were extremely thankful for the escort but Art could have used it on the way back to the restaurant as he was a bit buzzed from the “chili high” and began to walk the other direction, right towards a private wedding party, something which he was not dressed for–especially while sporting a fresh Ghost Wing sauce stain dead center of his shirt.
We were told that they plan to bring back all previous challenge winners to compete amongst themselves in something like an all-you-can-eat Ghost Wing event. The winner will receive something special, like a crystal skull from Dan Akroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka. Girvan Grille really knows how to get people interested in their restaurant and get them to keep coming back again and again!
If you enjoy extremely spicy foods and are looking for something that is not only homemade but has incredible flavor and don’t mind lasting 15 minutes without wiping your hands, drinking, or eating, I highly suggest you head to Girvan Grille to check out their Ghost Wing Challenge and even if you don’t, they have an exciting menu which Art and I commented we’d definitely like to go back and try again–when our taste buds return to normal :)
Have you participated in the challenge or have you eaten at Girvan Grille for any other occasion? Perhaps you know of a place that serves even hotter wings (Manager Jon Fehrmann mentioned that there’s a place in Duluth that serves Ghost Wings on a 1 to 5 scale!)? Whatever you have to say about the Ghost Wing Challenge, please comment on and share what’s on your mind!
Address:
Girvan Grille
8700 Edinbrook Crossing
Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Phone:
763-315-8535
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 11 AM – close
Sunday: 10 AM – close
See all the pictures from today at Girvan Grille on Flickr here.
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
Loading ...
July 26th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Check out Art’s excellent recap of the event here.
July 26th, 2009 at 9:57 am
My taste buds are still fried. I can’t taste anything at the moment, but I never experienced the fiery aftereffects I had dreaded on my lips and tongue (my intestines are another story, however). These were, bar none, the best wings I have ever eaten — and, having spent most of my adult life in Western New York, I have eaten me some wings. The Ghosts easily were the spiciest I’ve ever eaten, probably twice as spicy as my previous favorites at the Mohawk Diner in New York and the 911s at Frankie’s Wings & Things in Port Canaveral (which closed in 2005, sadly). Thanks to Bill, Kim and the Nephew for a great roadtrip. We’ll have to do it again for the Tournament of Champions. I want me that crystal skull!
July 26th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Bill, congrats and I am really happy to hear that this lived up to your expectations. I was concerned you might never find something hot enough to satisfy you. I have never been up there, but based on your review it sounds like they really “get it.”
Looks like a blast………..
July 26th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
[...] for the trip to Brooklyn Park Saturday for the Ghost Wings Challenge (read all about it here and here). The playlist was heavy with songs from my iTunes database that contained the words [...]
July 26th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Looks like fun. I’m going to have to give it try. You are 100% correct on Babes. Tasteless goopy sugary wings. Crappy.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
So Bill, the real question I have now that you have had 36 hours to really experience the full effects of the 15 minutes of the challenge, would you do it all over again? Are you going to be a supportive friend and accompany Josh and do it all over again when Josh takes the challenge? I would be curious to poll the existing challengers that have met the goal and ask them 24 hours after the challenge if they would do it again.
July 27th, 2009 at 7:12 am
You know, after bout 6 and 7 with the “burning ring of fire” which caused my to whine and nearly cry (no, I’m not joking) my wife said to me, “I cannot take you seriously knowing that you may eat these again.” She wondered if I’d eat them again with Josh when he goes up there too but honestly, while I’d do the winner’s circle because it’s a freebie event, I really cannot say I’d pay another $10 to hurt myself again–I’d really just prefer to laugh at others instead.
I really enjoyed the wings to be honest. They were really flavorful and still incredibly hot and something which I never thought I’d like as much as I did. Unfortunately the aftereffects weren’t just the “burn twice” that they claim and I’m still having some aftereffects this morning although they don’t hurt anymore.
But, if you like it hot, these are definitely the way to go :)
July 27th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
So what is the deal, 21 Winners on the Winner Wall thus far, one woman?? Come on ladies step up to the plate.
July 29th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Bill, you may have to 12-step your way out …. http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-28/hot-sauce-addicts/
August 12th, 2009 at 12:32 am
My buddy and me did the challenge on Sunday, and it was AWESOME. Best wings I’ve ever had. Seriously, and this is coming from a guy who loves spicy hotwings.
We had the two fastest times to finish our wings, and I have to say, if they’d put another batch in front of me, I probably would have eaten them too. Got the T-shirt, and walked out a VERY happy man. I plan on making this a recurring thing, as these are hands down, the best wings on the planet, and if anyone disagrees, they have no idea what they’re talking about.
The flavor alone, coupled with the spicy burn of the Bhut Jolokia pepper, is so stunning and memorable, that for the rest of your life, you will remember these wings. I ordered a pound of these peppers from the same place as Girvan’s, and am looking forward to having this sort of thing at home.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I was just notified by E-mail, that apparently my buddy and I were not served the Ghost Wings on Sunday, even though both chefs watched us, as did the manager. We both got the T-shirts, but apparently this was in error.
We are going to be re-doing the challenge this Sunday.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
What were you served?
August 15th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Did you end up with dragon wings? not even close to the ghost wings. the ghost wings were so hot, I couldn’t finish more than three. I was crying like a baby and I’m a hot food affieciendo. the chef got a kick out of it and bought me a beer regardless. great night! after the next day came around, I was glad I only had three. I can’t imagine what 10 of them would have been like on their trip out.
August 15th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Bill, I added the first letter of your last name as your username just so people wouldn’t get confused w/my account. If you’d like something else, let me know.
August 16th, 2009 at 9:12 am
[...] into this week’s poll asking if you like to eat your food spicy or not. After completing the Ghost Wings Challenge at Girvan Grille in Brooklyn Park with Art a few weeks ago because Josh had something else going [...]
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
The challenge of the winners will be on 10/5 at 7 PM. The same night as the Vikings play Green Bay on Monday Night Football!
August 24th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I can’t wait! Hope Josh’s volleyball season is over by then ;)
August 31st, 2009 at 10:02 am
Coworker Danni went up to Brooklyn Park yesterday and became the second female to complete the Ghost Wing Challenge! http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill_roehl/3874853602/
January 28th, 2010 at 7:32 am
[...] garlic, and jolokia peppers. Its taste is very similar to what we have experienced while eating Ghost Wings at Girvan Grille in Brooklyn Park. While Josh put a dollop on his sandwich that made me cringe, I have been limiting [...]
March 17th, 2010 at 7:31 am
[...] Scoville unit range and thus are about 7x hotter than a jalapeno. While nothing even close to the ghost peppers these leave a seriously strong fire burning in your mouth long after whatever you have poured the [...]
April 26th, 2010 at 10:43 am
[...] The upstairs beer offerings were cans or tap beers only and the beer selection is limited to the most boring of domestics. The wings were what we came for but everyone at the table ordered appetizers too. We got the jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, and the mushrooms. Nothing out of the ordinary but I can’t say I enjoyed whatever sauce they offered to dip the poppers in. The wings came out with one couple ordering a 5 wing sampler, two of us ordering their “habanero hots”, and my wife ordering the Wild West wings. They arrived luke warm. They had some meat but weren’t anything special. The bleu cheese dressing was nice and the celery was plentiful. The wings, however, were nothing like those they copied from Hilton Head Island. The Habanero “Hots” weren’t spicy and tasted very similar to watered down Buffalo Wild Wings’ “Blazin’” wings which ranks these as completely unimpressive both in spice level and taste. Honestly, if you’re looking for really hot wings in the area head to the nearby Girvan Grille and get their Ghost Wings. [...]
September 15th, 2010 at 10:40 am
[...] habanero. I have also eaten plenty of ghost pepper infused hot sauces, BBQ sauces, salsas, and even wings but this was the hottest I’ve felt. Woo boy. They were not kidding when they warned you on [...]
February 17th, 2011 at 8:04 am
[...] flavor. The beef itself was incredibly tasty and the stew carried a sweet flavor reminiscent of Girvan Grille’s Ghost Wings. The flavors, aside from the ghosts, made themselves known in the first two bites–long before [...]
January 3rd, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Today a co-worker stopped by my office today with a pint of something called Horseman’s Haven Green Chile sauce (level 2) that he purchased frozen in Santa Fe, New Mexico over the weekend and brought home.
I’ve been to Girvan Grille with he and another co-worker in the past to eat the ghost wings. At the time, he mentioned that there was a place in New Mexico that could beat the heat of the Ghost wings and also deliver great flavor. My other co-worker and I both scoffed at that because we thought he was throwing us a line we could never verify.
Anyway, he handed me a spoonful of the stuff. It smelled similar to what I think I smell when I open the small cans of Green Chilis that you can buy in the Mexican food area of the grocery store, but it was clear from my watering eyes that these were quite spicy. I ate the spoonful and found that he was mostly correct. While not quite as spicy as the Ghost pepper sauce we know and love, I just had no idea that a green chile could be so spicy. I suspect there are additional agent in that sauce to give it the heat, but the great green chili flavor coupled with some massive heat elements made this one of the better hot sauce items I have ever had. It’ right up near the top of my list, even though I probably will never eat it again since you can’t buy it anywhere but at this hole in the wall restaurant.
Anyway, Bill does not believe me that it could have been that spicy. The other two guys I ate it with (we went for lunch and dumped more on our food) agree that it would make most people puke or give up, and that if definitely gives Girvan a run for the money.
Good stuff. Wondering if anyone else here has heard of this pepper sauce.
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:07 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27chile.html