NATAL CURRY CONTEST

 If you can read this whole story without laughing then there's no hope for

 you. I was crying by the end. Note: Please take time to read this slowly.

  For those of you who have lived in Natal (South Africa), you know how

  typical this is.  They actually have a Curry Cook-off about June/July.

  It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the Royal Show in

  Pietermaritzburg.

  Judge #3 was an inexperienced food critic named Frank, who was visiting

  from America.

  Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a curry

  Cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I

  happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for directions

  to the Beer Garden when the call came in. I was assured by the other two

  judges (Natal Indians) that the curry wouldn't be all that spicy and,

  besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I

  accepted".

  Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

  CURRY # 1 - SEELAN'S MANIAC MONSTER TOMATO CURRY...

  Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.

  Judge # 2 -- Nice smooth tomato flavour. Very mild.

  Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy shit, what the hell is this stuff? You could

  remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the

  flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These people are crazy.

  CHILI #2 - PHOENIX BBQ CHICKEN CURRY...

  Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of chicken. Slight chili tang.

  Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken

  seriously.

  Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what

  I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who

  wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver! They had to rush in more beer

  when they saw the look on my face.

  CURRY # 3 - SHAMILA'S FAMOUS "BURN DOWN THE GARAGE" CURRY...

  Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse curry. Great kick.

  Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of chili peppers.

  Judge # 3 -- Call 911. I've located a uraniums pill. My nose feels like I

  have been snorting Drain Cleaner. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get

  me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my

  backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting pissed from all

  the beer.

  CHILI # 4 - BABOO'S BLACK MAGIC BEAN CURRY...

 Judge # 1 -- Black bean curry with almost no spice. Disappointing.

  Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or

  other mild foods, not much of a curry.

  Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable

  to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Shareen, the beer

  maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 200kg woman is

  starting to look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili

  an aphrodisiac?

  CHILI # 5 LALL'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER...

  Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong curry. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding

  considerable kick. Very impressive.

  Judge # 2 -- Average beef curry, could use more tomato. Must admit the

  chili peppers make a strong statement.

  Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I

  can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed

  paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her

  chilli had given me brain damage.

  Shareen saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from

  the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pisses me off

  that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw them.

  CHILI # 6 - VERISHNEE'S VEGETARIAN VARIETY...

  Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety curry. Good balance of

  spices and peppers.

  Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic.

  Superb.

  Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous,

  sulfuric flames. I am definitely going to shit myself if I fart and I'm

  worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand

  behind me except that Shareen. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe

  my ass with a snow cone ice-cream.

  CHILI # 7 - SELINA'S "MOTHER-IN-LAW'S-TONGUE" CURRY...

  Judge # 1 -- A mediocre curry with too much reliance on canned peppers.

  Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of

  chili peppers at the last moment. (I should take note at this stage that

  I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he

  is cursing uncontrollably).

  Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I

  wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds

  like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with curry which

  slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my

  shirt. At least, during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've

  decided to stop breathing- it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting

  any oxygen anyway. If I need air I'll just suck it in through the

  4-inch hole in my stomach.

  CHILI # 8 - NAIDOO'S TOENAIL CURLING CURRY...

  Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending. This is a nice blend curry. Not too bold

  but spicy enough to declare its existence.

  Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced curry. Neither mild nor

hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed

 out, fell over and pulled the curry pot down on top of himself.   Not

  sure if he's going to make it. Poor man, wonder how he'd have reacted to

  really hot curry?

  Judge # 3 - No Report.