Almost a decade ago, Adam Richman’s dude-next-door’s face became synonymous with the gut-busting feats of his show Man vs Food as he ate his way across America.

Richman was faced with the biggest portions and spiciest food that the nation had to offer, from sandwiches drenched in cheese and not much smaller than a newborn baby to clubs so hot they made him sweat. Eventually, and possibly to avert clogged arteries and diabetes, Richman packed the show in in 2012 after four seasons and eating at 189 restaurants. In 2015, he revealed to The Independent that he now goes vegan for months at a time as he trains for the football season.

So, what was it like to be caught up in the media whirlwind that saw Richman become an international name? And did a secretly diva-ish attitude overshadow Richman’s cheeky-chappy on-screen persona?

The world's biggest food fights Show all 11 1 /11 The world's biggest food fights The world's biggest food fights La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain Revellers throw tomato pulp at each other during the annual "tomatina" festivities in the village of Bunol, near Valencia on August 26, 2015. Some 22,000 revellers hurled 150 tonnes of squashed tomatoes at each other drenching the streets in red in a gigantic Spanish food fight marking the 70th annual "Tomatina" battle. AFP PHOTO / BIEL ALINO (Photo credit should read BIEL ALINO/AFP/Getty Images) Biel Alino/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain A reveller is pelted with tomato pulp during the annual "tomatina" festivities in the village of Bunol, near Valencia on August 31, 2016. Today at the annual Tomatina fiesta 160 tonnes of ripe tomatoes were offloaded from trucks into a crowd of 22,000 half-naked revellers who packed the streets of Bunol for an hour-long battle. / AFP / BIEL ALINO (Photo credit should read BIEL ALINO/AFP/Getty Images) Biel Alino/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain Revellers covered in tomato pulp participate in the annual "tomatina" festivities in the village of Bunol, near Valencia on August 31, 2016. Today at the annual Tomatina fiesta 160 tonnes of ripe tomatoes were offloaded from trucks into a crowd of 22,000 half-naked revellers who packed the streets of Bunol for an hour-long battle. / AFP / BIEL ALINO (Photo credit should read BIEL ALINO/AFP/Getty Images) Biel Alino/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights World Custard Pie Championship, Kent Funk Dooby/Flickr The world's biggest food fights World Custard Pie Championship, Kent Funk Dooby/Flickr The world's biggest food fights La Merengada, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrú The world's biggest food fights La Merengada, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrú The world's biggest food fights Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights Clean Monday, Galaxidi, Greece Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights Clean Monday, Galaxidi, Greece Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

Mark Cohen, the owner of The Chicken or The Egg in New Jersey, was visited by Richman in 2010. They are best known for their chicken wings.

The producer of the show emailed Cohen and asked if he would like to appear, and throw down the gauntlet of the Ludicrous Wings Challenge to scarf down hot-sauce slathered 12 jumbo wings in 15 minutes.

The most memorable moment for Coheh was when Richman tasted the hot sauce in his kitchen and it “literally took his breath away.”

Adam Richman visited The Chicken or The Egg in 2010

Cohen says he was nervous about appearing, but “Adam made it easy". “He and the crew were incredibly laid back and easy to work with.”

“He was very friendly, genuine and funny,” he recalls.

But that didn't mean that painstaking levels of work didn't go into shooting the seemingly chatty and relaxed 20-minute episodes.

“The crew arrived at around noon on a Saturday. We did kitchen shots, slow motion recipe simulations, and b-rolls.”

“The actual challenge did not take place until almost 9pm. Then Adam took a very long break and returned to do the follow-up interview.”

“Interestingly enough, the audience responses were taped before he was filmed asking the questions," he adds.

The chicken wings that Adam Richman ate for his challenge.

The crew finally wrapped up 12 hours later at midnight, but hung out at the joint until about 3am.

After the show aired, the popularity of the restaurant was kicked into another gear, says Cohen. Eventually he had to bolster his staff to 60 people to keep up with demand.

The Chicken or the Egg in New Jersey

“We started seeing many more challengers than in the past, many of whom were clearly pros trying our best challenge.”