I've recently become intrigued by the show, "Man v. Food". It showcases a man who goes from city to city taking on local food challenges. Most of these involve eating a lot of food, or a really spicy food in a certain amount of time.
While I've never partaken in an official challenges, there are certain meals that have proven particularly challenging, and have thus, become my own unofficial food challenges.
1. 20 Mozzarella Sticks from Arby's
This is the big cahuna for me when it comes to food challenges. It was one of the most grueling trials I've ever endured.
A couple of years back, Arby's had a promotion where you could order 5 things for about $5. I joked that I would just order a bunch of mozzarella sticks, because I love mozzarella sticks.
Well, during a road trip, my roommate and I went to Arby's and I got to put my theory to the test. For the sake of simplicity, I ordered 4 orders of cheese sticks and a drink, but with 5 sticks per order, it still came out to an even 20.
The first ten were easy, the next five were a bit tougher, but still doable. The last five, however, were a gauntlet. I honestly didn't think I could take another bite and it was only after much encouragement from my roommate that I was able to finish. It got to a point where even a single bite felt like a daunting task in and of itself.
After that was done, I had no desire to even think about cheese. No joke, that lasted for a few weeks. The ordeal took that much of a toll on me.
Cheese sticks aren't particularly filling, but when you hit that number, it becomes impossible to take another bite. This is one food challenge that not only pushed me to the sheer limit, but also left me with a desire never to attempt to do it again.
2. Grilled Cheeseburger Melt from Friendly's
I have never actually had this sandwich, because Friendly's aren't easy to come by, at least in the areas where I frequent, but man, I want to try it.
A lot of people freaked out about the health issues, but I don't care. It's not a sandwich that you're supposed to eat on a regular basis and it looks freaking delicious.
A restaurant sized burger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches? You probably could make two meals out of it, but I would love to try to take it down in one sitting.
3. 1 pound plate of Fettuccine Alfredo from Moe's
Some time ago, we went to this seafood restaurant called "Moe's". I don't remember where it was, but I'm pretty sure it's in Maryland.
Anyway, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. They pretty much served me a full box as the serving size was huge. Sadly, I was unable to finish it.
We never went back to that place, though I did bring up the idea of going back frequently as I wanted a rematch, but it was a massive serving of pasta that, combined with the heavy cream sauce, made for a daunting meal.
4. The Double Stacked Burger from Bill Bateman's Bistro
I love Bacon Cheeseburgers. Almost every restaurant I go to serves it, so it has become my go to dish. One chain in Severna Park, Md decided to up the ante by doubling down.
Now, fast food burger places serve sandwiches with multiple patties, but those are generally smaller, where the double stacked burger features two patties the size of a burger you would normally get at a place like Applebee's or T.G.I.Friday's.
I've bested this burger every time I've eaten it, but it is quite filling, and all the more challenging because the burger is so big that I can't bite into it in its entirety. Instead, I have to attempt to bite into either the top or bottom half and try to keep it even as I eat it. It's a hassle, but the burger is so delicious that it's worth the effort.
5. Oreo/Chocolate Tall Cake from Ruby Tuesday's
This is the food challenge that started it all for me. Back in the day, I used to treat eating pieces of cake like it was a sport. As far as I was concerned, the bigger the piece, the better.
While there were several other chains that served giant pieces of chocolate cake, this was the big daddy as far as I was concerned. It was a huge block of brownie, with ice cream and drenched in caramel and chocolate sauce. It was delicious and finishing it was never easy, but always satisfying.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. It may not compare to the sort of meals that Adam Richman eats on the show, but for those of us who have a more run of the mill appetite, these should prove to be plenty challenging.
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