The Steak Challenge

     Anyone from Texas or anyone who has ever known an avid Texan, knows that the great lone star state is built on a love of  steakhouses. My uncle came down to visit Texas officially (other than the airport) last Christmas and is still talking about a Houston steakhouse that he went to called "The Taste of Texas". Texans love there steakhouses so much that they need it everywhere they travel, so don't tell me you haven't been  to a Texas Roadhouse.
     Remember, everything is bigger in Texas. So naturally, Texans want a big steak. The 72 oz. challenge is at "The Big Texan" restaurant up in the panhandle of the state in a city called Amarillo. A normal large portion of steak at any steakhouse in comparison is 32oz. on average. So this steak more than doubles that expectation. However, If you can complete the challenge it's free.
     The steak challenge originated with the opening owner R.J. "Bob" Lee, who was trying to fulfill the appetite of the hungry cowboys who were ranching all day long in the blistering heat. One cowboy ate 4½ pounds of meat after proclaiming boastfully that he was so hungry he could eat the entire cow. From that day forth the challenge became a stereotypical reminder of why everything in Texas is bigger.

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    Unfortunately, like most food challenges there are additional edible components other than the steak that needs to be finished. Including a baked potato, salad, dinner roll and shrimp cocktail. Thousands have tried and learned the lesson the hard way, "don't mess with Texas". While on the other hand few have actually succeeded.  Best grab your horse and cowboy up, this is one difficult challenge. The question is though, "are you Texan enough to try it"?
www.bigtexan.com

Playing with Food

      By definition a food challenge can fit anyone's personal preference but, I simply think it is a way to enjoy food more because you are playing with it. At a younger age I was guilty of mixing as much food as i could into my glass of water to blend the most horrific cocktail imaginable. It was difficult to get more than three or four ingredients before my dad would pop me over the head and tell me to "stop playing with my food". Regardless, this was a challenge that the imagination of a young kid made up with the objective to make the worst blend possible.
    Today, there are many food challenges that do not require you to go to a restaurant to eat a 20lb burger. For instances, the gallon challenge which requires one to drink an entire gallon of milk in an hour. Some tack on the additional obligation of running a mile after drinking it but, you are strongly unlikely to finish it before you lose it. I watched from a distance as several people tried it and failed miserably. This challenge is not for the faint of heart and not by my recommendation but, it is notable.
     Most people say it is impossible but, I have seen someone once finish a gallon and a half in an hour but, the guy was 6'5 and probably 280lbs. Online the fastest someone claims to have done it is in about 42 seconds. Anyways, just another one of those playing with your food challenge ideals. Have fun with it.  

Hardy's Hot Wings

      I had scarcely been out a month on my mission in Bend, Oregon when without much choice I was forced to taste some of the hottest, scorching, wings imaginable. Why such inhumane wings were created and why anyone within their right senses (other than falling to peer pressure) would attempt such a feat, is still unclear to me. The objective was simple, 15 wings in 15 minutes but, the execution was unthinkable.
     Even before the wings left the kitchen the smell alone struck my nostrils painfully causing my eyes to water. I sat across from one of my unfortunate friends who innocently accepted the challenge only to have increasing remorse as the wings approached our table. The waiter sat our baskets before us and I knew it was nothing more than a death sentence. A twisted smile came across the waiters face as the stop watch in  his hand clicked before I had my last words.
     Immediately, both of us dived into our baskets taking no thought of retreat but, keeping the motivation that every wing eaten is one less torment to finish. The trick was to eat fast with no thought about the repercussions.
    "How is it" I barely managed to choke out to my red faced miserable friend who had sauce smeared across his mouth.
    "Just like fast and testimony meeting" he joked but, the tears that ran down his eyes lacked humor.

     It was quick but, not painless, as I finished the last wing just short of beating my friend. Both of us gasping for air and emptying the water cups that lined the table on our behalf. I thought to myself, "if I can get through that than two years will be a piece of cake".

Challenges on Television.

      The tenth season of Hell's Kitchen just reached it's climax with another lucky individual claiming the right of passage as a head chief at their own restaurant. For any who may not be familiar with this show, it is a reality series that takes 18 random chiefs that compete in various food challenges by cooking and running a kitchen. Yet, the most notable reason for watching the show is Chief Gordon Ramsay who yells constantly at the disorder and lack of skill among some of the less professional chiefs.
     Regardless, this is not a typical food challenge one would normally try unless you considered yourself a luck of the draw to participate on the show but, the reasons I bring it into attention is the fact that it involves food and competition. An entire reality show was built on the foundation of  being rewarded ones very own restaurant but, only if they can out cook and out perform all 17 other competing chiefs. There are many other reality competition shows that involve people competing with food such as Chopped, Cupcake wars, or Man vs. Food.
     Now, I personally am not as big of a fan of the food network as my mom but, a lot of these shows are very enticing. Watching people cook doesn't sound that interesting but, each show offers their own critical, humorous, ways of presenting the subject of cooking, eating, and competing. These shows are all food challenges that are worth a glance if not a faithful reviewing.