The contestants were blotting tears from their blood red eyes and gulping ice water and milk after two minutes of a fiery feast at Jungle Jim’s in Fairfield Sunday.

Jungle Jim’s sixth annual Weekend of Fire event culminated with 10 brave men downing Bald Eagle horseradish brats and ghost chili among other tongue-torturing dishes during the Feast of Fire. The winner after two minutes of stuffing his face with red hot delicacies was Jeremy Francis of Monroe. He proudly hoisted the giant trophy and accepted a basket full of goodies that included margarita mix and more hot stuff.

“I ate the most,” he said. “There were five of us ‘til the end but I think I ate the most out of everybody because I finished all the horseradish. Then I had to try the brownie, it was good.”

When asked if he’ll take the challenge next year, he replied “oh, ya.”

Second place went to Stephen Zumbrun of Indianapolis, Ind..

“The horseradish things, I don’t know exactly what they were, but it was supposedly 30 times (hotter) than they normally have,” he said. “It was like instant choke, cough, vomit, like it just knocked you out, it’s like nothing I’ve ever had before.”

Steven Lambert, who said he was the first one out, did not enjoy his experience.

“It was just awful, the horseradish was awful,” he said.

Jim Beckett, specialty food manager at Jungle Jim’s, said about 2,500 people came through to sample the hottest sauces and foods around on Saturday and he estimated 1,000 to 1,500 tortured their taste buds on Sunday. The first event in 2007 only pulled in about 500 people.

The annual event was the brainchild of Jungle Jim himself, but the eating contest was a first for this year. He went to a “fiery food” show in Albuquerque, NM, seven years ago and said he wanted to bring the idea here, according to Beckett.

Debbie Hartinger, marketing coordinator for the eclectic food emporium said, “That’s all it takes, Jungle says I want to do it and we do it.”

Lindsey Mann of Lebanon was at the tasting with her family of six. Her favorite selection was the hot and spicy Bloody Mary mix. Even her little ones were sampling some of the offerings. She says she loves hot stuff.

“I’m on fire right now…,” she said. “We’re a family of hot stuff.”