For many of us the phrase conjures up combined feelings of disgust and intrigue. Some may even remember, fondly yet reluctantly, the men and women stuffing their faces with insane numbers of hot dogs at the local fair. Food challenges, having recently been popularized by the Travel Channel’s “Man Vs. Food,” have become a way for restaurants to establish a name for themselves, draw in new customers and just have fun. Those seeking to conquer these challenges often receive T-shirts, the meal is free, not to mention eternal glory on the wall of fame and bragging rights in the food challenge world. But to this day there still remain food challenges that test the limits of even the most rigorous eaters. Insanely grotesque portions settled on a plate so large that nobody’s mother could tell you to clean. These food challenges have yet to be defeated.
That Burger
America loves burgers, which is why many have tried and failed to consume this food icon monster That Bar in Danville, California features the appropriately named burger challenge, consisting of 2 Angus beef patties, one of which contains a whole grilled cheese sandwich inside. Each patty is topped with a mound of bacon plus cheddar, American, pepper jack and swiss cheese. This already giant mound is then finished off with a pile of crispy shoestring fries and drizzled with a generous portion of BBQ sauce, all squeezed between a giant bun. In addition to the burger, challengers must also consume a quarter pound of fries and a quarter pound of onion rings
The Inferno Bowl
In addition to ridiculously large portions, the heat factor of a meal is the only other quality that can deem a meal worthy of the title “food challenge,” and this oriental soup has both. At Nitally’s ThaiMex Cuisine in St. Petersberg, Florida, you will find there’s more than just a bunch of noodles packed into this volcano. The recipe consists of 12 peppers, including varieties of habanero and fresh ghost pepper, known to many as the hottest pepper in the world. Owner’s offer $800 to anyone who can finish the 48 ounce bowl in 30 minutes, a jackpot value that rises every time another brave soul attempts and fails.
Full-O-Bull
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the food challenges. The Cowtown Diner ‘s whopping 64 ounce chicken-fried steak is part of the largest eating challenge in the world. Measuring about 14 inches in diameter, the steak is served on a pizza pan and topped with a generous amount of gravy, bringing the dish to approximately 10 pounds. In addition you must also finish four pounds of mashed potatoes, 10 pieces of Texas toast and a giant dinner salad. Challengers have the duration of the diner’s operating hours, from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., to finish the meal. Winners will receive their $70 meal on the house plus a T-shirt that says “I came to Cowtown Diner hungry and I left Full-O-Bull.”
The Kitchen Sink
At J&J’s Pizza Shack in Indiana you’ll find what is propably the oldest undefeated food challenge. The 16 inch round deep dish pizza crust holds all of the basic toppings: sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, olives, ham, Canadian bacon, bacon bits and mozzarella cheese, weighing the XL pizza in at about 6 pounds. A dish that is a popular order for groups, the kitchen sink is actually meant to serve between 4 and 6 people. Challengers who consume the entire pie by themselves win the meal for free.
