Food is an essential part of understanding the culture of a country. Since America is a mix of many different cultures that have introduced their own cuisines to us, we express our food culture in oversized portions and thousands of calories. These are some of the most grandiose food challenges I could find from different cities throughout the United States.
1. The Vermonster – Any Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop
I have to start with the famous bucket of ice cream created in my home state. The Vermonster is a Ben & Jerry’s sundae with 20 scoops of ice cream, four bananas, three cookies, a brownie, hot fudge, caramel, nuts, and any other topping your heart desires. It costs around $30 and the fastest any person has ever eaten it is in nine minutes.
2. The 8th Wonder – Clinton, New Jersey
At Clinton Station Diner you can find the largest burger in the world weighing in at 105 pounds. If ten people can finish it in 60 minutes they win $5,000. The massive burger is 28 inches in diameter and 11.5 inches tall, and it has never been conquered.
3. World’s Largest Chicken-Fried Steak – Fort Worth, Texas
Heading down south for this next one, Cowtown Diner offers the world’s largest chicken-fried steak. It is 64 ounces covered in gravy and bacon grease, accompanied by six pounds of mashed potatoes and 10 slices of Texas toast. If you finish it all, you get the meal for free, a T-shirt, and your photo on the wall.
4. Inferno Soup Challenge – St. Petersburg, Florida
At Nitally’s Thai-Mex Cuisine, you can order a soup served in a 48-ounce bowl that contains 12 kinds of peppers from around the world, the spiciest being the ghost pepper. Few people have been able to finish this meal within the time limit of 30 minutes.
5. Godzilla Roll Challenge – Lomita, California
If you are a fan of sushi, stop by Sushi Delight and order a six-pound roll filled with various types of fish and topped with house sauces. If you finish it in 60 minutes, you get a T-shirt and your picture on the wall.
6. Jack-n-Grill Challenge – Denver, Colorado
This challenge, with the same name as the restaurant it’s served in, is to finish a 7-pound breakfast burrito containing 12 eggs, 7 potatoes, a pound of ham, an onion, cheese, and chili. A woman has yet to accomplish this challenge, and the first one who does gets free food from this restaurant for life.
7. The 72-ounce Steak Challenge – Amarillo, Texas
The Big Texan Steak House offers this enormous steak along with a buttered bread roll, a shrimp cocktail, a baked potato, ranch beans, and a salad. If you finish, the meal is free and you get bragging rights for your impressive feat.
8. The Bacon Bomb Challenge – Paddy Long’s – Chicago, Illinois
Made in the restaurant Paddy’s Long, this meal is five pounds of ground sausage, pork, and beef, which is then wrapped in brown sugar bacon and served with either fries or potato salad. If you can finish this meal in 45 minutes or less, you get your picture on the wall of fame.
Food challenges like these are when Americans get to prove themselves by consuming five times the amount of calories they are supposed to in that day. I heard if you finish one of these challenges, the crowd starts chanting “USA! USA!” and an eagle flies over your head. I would be thoroughly impressed and only slightly disgusted by anyone who could accomplish one of these. I would also be concerned for their health but that’s a topic for another day.
