2008 Woodie Awards
Students taste their fears at Asian Heritage Month event
By: Heidi Fenton
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
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The offerings on Wednesday evening were a little different when the Asian Cultural Association hosted its second annual Fear Factor Challenge.
The event took place in Central Michigan University's Kulhavi Residence Hall.
Six pairs of students battled for the title of this year's champion by consuming a variety of foreign cuisine. More than 50 other students came to watch.
"I've eaten some pretty nasty stuff before," said Rockford junior David Hammond. "But I just won't do anything poisonous. I don't want to die or get terribly sick."
Hammond and a friend came together and formed a team called "Tiger Blood for Breakfast." 'The name came from a snow cone flavor they tried while on a trip to Louisiana.
"We thought it'd be different and appropriate, too," Hammond said.
The Fear Factor event had four different rounds.
The first three required each participant to consume a separate plate of food in less than two minutes. The only rule mandated that everything stay down once swallowed.
Competition was tight for the first and second dishes, which were Kimchi (fermented and seasoned cabbage), and Meeul Chi (anchovies with honey and sugar).
The third offering proved to be a bit more challenging.
As the participants looked down at a fruit called Durian, a repulsive stench filled the room.
"We brought this back by popular demand," said Joe Her, Sterling Heights senior and president of the Asian Cultural Association. "It's called the king of fruits because of its strong smell."
The fruit eliminated one group, leaving five pairs to battle for the final round.
As Her brought out the last food, many gasped and sank back with looks of horror.
"It's called 'Balut'," he said. "It's a fertilized duck egg removed during incubation."
Her told each team to pick one person willing to eat it, and then demonstrated how it should be done. He broke the egg (which had been cooked) revealing a brown soupy liquid, and a duck fetus. Removing the item, he explained that the duck actually is one of the most nutritious foods eaten in the Philippines.
When it came time for the groups to take their shot at eating the egg, the first one finished became the victor.
Midland junior Ying-Chu Liu claimed a $50 cash prize for her team, 'The Magic Gatherers.'
"We needed magic to face that egg," Liu said, smiling, but still shaking from nerves. "I just thought of it as a regular egg. It kind of tasted like chicken."
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