Journalists take on the Fire and Brimstone Feast at Castle Hill’s Hillside Hotel

JOURNALISTS battle it out to claim the title of Fire and Brimstone Feast Champion at the Hillside Hotel alongside chef Brad Shorten — and they did not come out unscathed.

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FIRE and Brimstone is certainly the best way to describe the battle you face when taking on the beast of a feast at the Hillside Hotel at Castle Hill.

Diners can fight it out for the title of Brimstone Feast Champion if they can finish a 2kg helping of brisket, pork, spicy chorizo, coleslaw, mac and cheese, beans, pickles and crisps in under 15 minutes.

Hills Shire Times reporters Jake McCallum (left) Gary Hamilton-Irvine (right) take on chef Brad Shorten in the Brimstone Feast challenge at Castle Hill. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook

The Hills Shire Times sent its reporters take on the challenge alongside Hillside chef Brad Shorten — but they did not come out unscathed.

Reporter Gary Hamilton-Irvine said he feared he would not keep the feast down as he powered through the challenge.

Hills Shire Times reporter Gary Hamilton-Irvine undertaking the challenge of eating 2kg of brisket, pork, hot links, slaw, mac ÔnÕ cheese, beans, pickle and crisps in under 15 minutes. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

“In the end I think Brad was the champion,” he said. “I really enjoyed it for the first three or four minutes before I was completely bloated.”

Jake McCallum said he completely over-estimated the size of the meal and knew there was no way he could beat the clock.

Chef Brad Shorten prepares 3 Brimstone Feast Challenges at Castle Hill. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

“My eyes were just too big for my stomach,” he said. “Each item — on what is usually a share plate for four people — was delicious but it was just too much.”

Only one professional eater has completed the challenge since it began earlier this year.