Did I tell you my friend is kind of famous?

You know how I went with some people to Denny's Beer Barrel Pub to watch them try to eat some ginormous burgers? And then how I went again with some other people? And both times everyone failed to complete the (absurd) task? Well, third time's the charm, because I finally got to see my friend Aubrey shove a two-pound burger into his stomach in 59 minutes, just one minute under the time limit.

I'm not going to lie, it was pretty gross. But that's the price of fame and rewards like a certificate and a t-shirt and a mention on the Beer Barrel website My friend is pictured in the third shot, labeled Mr. Slim.

Kristen, look away!

And the beef goes on...

I'm making a habit out of watching people attempt to eat three pounds of beef. It never gets old.

Over the Christmas break, I returned to Denny's Beer Barrel Pub, this time with Amanda, her sister Jess, Jess' husband Kevin, her cousin Travis, and Mama and Papa Beyer. We had three burger challengers that night. Amanda and Kevin went for the two-pounder and Travis, in a fit of either hubris or insanity, took on the formidable three-pounder. (Kristen, look away!)



Things started off well (don't they always?) and Kevin was really going strong at first. I thought he was going to power through in no time. Then, as he started to slow down, Amanda hit her stride. She halved her burger lengthwise, putting one part with the top bun and one with the bottom bun. Holding half the burger, it was now only the size of two Whoppers stacked on top of each other, and therefore much more manageable. Travis noticed this was helping her and he decided to follow her lead.

This would prove to be his undoing.

The three pound burger is a different beast. The three pound burger, when halved, just looks more sinister than before. Instead of a burger the size of a robust newborn, Travis now sat in front of several piles of beef that seemed to multiply before our very eyes. It was like the miracle of the loaves and the fishes in a Clearfield bar. I nibbled my fried pickles in horror. Travis later claimed, "breaking the burger apart broke me psychologically," and he ended the evening hunched over his take-out container.



In the end, no one completed the burger challenge, but I still have hope that I'll see it happen one day. So let me know if you want to head to Clearfield to take on this:



Kristen! Keep looking away!

Burgers the size of your head

Last night was the great burger challenge at Denny's Beer Barrel Pub.

Chris got the two-pound challenge burger:


And "Mr. Slim" got the amazing three-pounder:


We spectators cheered the competitors on with silver pom-pons and lots of enthusiam. Alas, it was not enough. Chris ate about half of his burger before posing for a photo with a big loser symbol on his forehead. Mr. Slim came so close, finishing all the meat, but being undone by the mustard and relish-soaked bottom bun which was covered in raw onions.

However, much like General MacArthur on the Philippine shores, he vows to return one day for his ultimate triumph. I can't wait to go back myself. I tried deep fried pickles (so ridiculously delicious!) and a good time was had by all.