And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
The Astoria in Corpus has a thing like th is. If you will permit me anecdote? Thank you. My coworker and I were there at that very place one time. Tim is looking around the joint, and his eyes got HUGE! There, all of eight feet away was Willy Nelson! 'JC, I could sweat that guy looks just like Willy! I wanna get his autograph!' That is in fact Willy, you parked the truck right to his tour bus. Honeysuckle Rose! Now leave him alone to enjoy his dinner! A couple of minutes later a couple of beers appear. Then some more. We've gotten our food and are giving it our full attention. Didn't notice Willy and his entourage leaving, until we heard that big diesel fire up. Tim was bummed. No autograph. Call for the check. 'Oh, Mr Nelson took care of that! See!' On the check was written (iirc) 'I appreciate your good manners. And here's an autograph. Willy' True story.
The Big Texan. If you're ever in Amarillo, ya gotta stop. Excellent steak, good drinks, get there early! I would've tried the 72 challenge in my younger years. The reigning champion is a competitive eater, skinny gal, she annihilated it in under 10 min, I think. Then had another. On YouTube
She's famous in Iowa. We've a chain of Jetho's BBQs that serve what's called the Adam Emmenecker Sandwich. It's described as a giant sandwich weighing in at four pounds and includes pork tenderloin, an Angus steakburger, Texas brisket, bacon, fried cheese, buffalo chicken tenders, and cheese sauce, all served with a pound of waffle fries.
She must have the metabolism of a hummingbird cuz she can down these like they're nothing and still stay thin. -lg
The kicker is all the OTHER STUFF you gotta eat within the time frame. Been there (19yrs old) - tried it, failed miserably. There is a difference between a STEAK and a meh... 6lbs of 'steak'. One is a joy to eat, the other ends in weight loss from all the chewing!
I used to frequent The Old San Francisco Steakhouse in Dallas back in the 80's. On the menu was a 48oz steak and you'd get a second one free if you could finish it in under an hour.
My wife could down that without even thinking, and probably ask for a second on the sides and dessert before it was over. She polished off a 24oz prime rib before I had my burger down, and was was nibbling on my fries. She was 5'9" and 155# at the time and we both wore 32" waist jeans. (she kept stealing mine)
Been there, tried and FAILED. At the time it was finish in 60min and it's free. I'm 6'3" was 'fasting' for the 300 miles into Amarillo, TX., girlfriend challenged me, ended up with about 1lb of steak - which she gladly & laughingly finished for me, I paid (she was 5'2"). It wasn't $72 back in the '70s - and really *wasn't* a good steak, I remember thinking, "This thing was cooked tough, to make you chew longer!" - and I had it done "medium".
I dumped that girl a few weeks later & never looked back, the experience wasn't too bad, but she managed to make it so humiliating, I figured she wasn't right for me!
Trail Dust steakhouse in Denver 1980's. If you wore a tie they would cut it off and give you a free drink. Everyone dug out their old crappy ties and wore them
I actually finished with about 12 minutes to go, in 1991. I hadn't eaten all day, was traveling by car seeing banks all day, walked in as the doors opened at 5:30. Asked the waitress what was the Big Texan free steak deal, and she replied that it was her first day, and would have to ask her manager. So this 19 yr old pimply faced kid came out, told me the rules, and asked for my CC. Surprised at paying up front, he explained,"we've had people die trying". First the shrimp cocktail came out, then a salad, and then the massive steak, potato, and roll. Medium rare, and about the size of the Dallas phone book at the time. The first half was easy, the second half was like eating that Dallas phone book. But , having finished the steak , the baked potato was glaring at me. Not being a big baked potato fan , I eyed it right back. Then I heard a loud "PSSST!", coming from the seating area above me on the second floor. This guy and his family were watching the event, and he says, in a semi whisper, "Throw me the potato!". But not wanting to cheat, I managed it down. The manager came over, confirmed I had finished, I left a tip, and the room managed a short , small applause, and I attempted to rise, and leave with some semblance of honor. I was wearing a suit with suspenders, and had to unbutton my slacks to move forward. When I got out to my car, I was too swollen to get behind the wheel, so I grabbed my hanging bag, and slowly walked across the parking lot to the Big Texan Motor Hotel. When I walked into the lobby, the clerk aske dif I was OK. I explained the feat I had just performed, and he grabbed a room key , handed it to me, and said, "you just pay when you leave, and good luck!" I still have the certificate.It made for great story telling .
We were there this past Sept. We went to help carry a buddy out after he tried. He got everything eaten with the exception of 12oz of steak. And it's not really a steak. It's more like a roast. Kudos to anyone who accomplished it!
I might have tried it when I was younger, but I wouldn't consider it now. I pass through there every few years, but usually stop at Dyer's for the BBQ.
Back when I lived there, the locals loved the place. Kept the tourist crowds and the noise out of our good steakhouses. We had much better quality steaks for less and could talk to each other....
A friend completed the challenge three (I think, might have been four) times. He was then informed that he'd hit the limit and could no longer take the challenge.
When I worked for Uncle Sam, I knew guys who could eat two of these giant steaks inside the allotted time.
ReplyDeleteDave
Get rid of all that greenery, but keep the bread and baked potato... paired with a nice Merlot and I'd give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteRetRsvMike
thats about 4 lbs of meat plus....
ReplyDeleteThe Astoria in Corpus has a thing like th
ReplyDeleteis. If you will permit me anecdote? Thank you. My coworker and I were there at that very place one time. Tim is looking around the joint, and his eyes got HUGE! There, all of eight feet away was Willy Nelson!
'JC, I could sweat that guy looks just like Willy! I wanna get his autograph!' That is in fact Willy, you parked the truck right to his tour bus. Honeysuckle Rose! Now leave him alone to enjoy his dinner!
A couple of minutes later a couple of beers appear. Then some more. We've gotten our food and are giving it our full attention. Didn't notice Willy and his entourage leaving, until we heard that big diesel fire up. Tim was bummed.
No autograph. Call for the check.
'Oh, Mr Nelson took care of that! See!'
On the check was written (iirc) 'I appreciate your good manners. And here's an autograph. Willy'
True story.
It's the Aster steakhouse, and it's still in business. Been about 40 years or so, but the steaks were good then.
DeleteI love hearing stories like that. Good on ya both!
DeleteThe Big Texan. If you're ever in Amarillo, ya gotta stop. Excellent steak, good drinks, get there early! I would've tried the 72 challenge in my younger years. The reigning champion is a competitive eater, skinny gal, she annihilated it in under 10 min, I think. Then had another. On YouTube
ReplyDeleteMolly Schuyler
DeleteShe's famous in Iowa. We've a chain of Jetho's BBQs that serve what's called the Adam Emmenecker Sandwich.
DeleteIt's described as a giant sandwich weighing in at four pounds and includes pork tenderloin, an Angus steakburger, Texas brisket, bacon, fried cheese, buffalo chicken tenders, and cheese sauce, all served with a pound of waffle fries.
She must have the metabolism of a hummingbird cuz she can down these like they're nothing and still stay thin.
-lg
The kicker is all the OTHER STUFF you gotta eat within the time frame.
DeleteBeen there (19yrs old) - tried it, failed miserably. There is a difference between a STEAK and a meh... 6lbs of 'steak'. One is a joy to eat, the other ends in weight loss from all the chewing!
Looked it up. That ain't a sandwich.
DeleteIt's a bunch of food piled up on a plate with a bun lid on top.
A sandwich is meant to be eaten with the hands and that thing can't be eaten that way. You have to pick it apart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF6Td98i71o
Where's John Candy when you need him?? RIP.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtS5BkwA3yU
ReplyDeleteThat might be the same little girl I saw eat TWO of those in <:30 min....
DeleteThat's crazy!
DeleteThis guy https://www.youtube.com/@Beardmeatsfood/videos will finish that steak in a few minutes and then order dessert.
ReplyDeleteI used to frequent The Old San Francisco Steakhouse in Dallas back in the 80's. On the menu was a 48oz steak and you'd get a second one free if you could finish it in under an hour.
ReplyDeleteMy wife could down that without even thinking, and probably ask for a second on the sides and dessert before it was over. She polished off a 24oz prime rib before I had my burger down, and was was nibbling on my fries. She was 5'9" and 155# at the time and we both wore 32" waist jeans. (she kept stealing mine)
ReplyDeleteI had 2 tech's that took a similar challenge further west in Paso Robles CA.
ReplyDeleteFYI, a medium cooked steak goes down better than a well done steak.
Been there, tried and FAILED. At the time it was finish in 60min and it's free.
ReplyDeleteI'm 6'3" was 'fasting' for the 300 miles into Amarillo, TX., girlfriend challenged me, ended up with about 1lb of steak - which she gladly & laughingly finished for me, I paid (she was 5'2"). It wasn't $72 back in the '70s - and really *wasn't* a good steak, I remember thinking, "This thing was cooked tough, to make you chew longer!" - and I had it done "medium".
I dumped that girl a few weeks later & never looked back, the experience wasn't too bad, but she managed to make it so humiliating, I figured she wasn't right for me!
The Big Texas Steak Ranch is a good place to stop, get a steak and maybe watch the 72oz show!
ReplyDeleteA toilet blocker if ever there was one.
ReplyDeleteTrail Dust steakhouse in Denver 1980's. If you wore a tie they would cut it off and give you a free drink. Everyone dug out their old crappy ties and wore them
ReplyDeleteThat, and they had the slide from the upstairs dining area down to the dance floor. Great place to take out-of-town visitors.
DeleteTalk about give me the meats. Can just taste tucking into those grilled beauties. That wonderful crispy edge fat and rib meat. Oh Yeah! Bring it on.
ReplyDeleteSlice it across the grain very thin, don't stop once you have started, and a little dish of Worcester Sauce and melted butter for dipping.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor did it, back in the 90s. A favorite story in his family.
ReplyDeleteSays he felt ill afterwards and didn't eat again for days.
I asked him if he could do it again: he just shook his head no, then said that once was enough for a single lifetime.
I actually finished with about 12 minutes to go, in 1991. I hadn't eaten all day, was traveling by car seeing banks all day, walked in as the doors opened at 5:30. Asked the waitress what was the Big Texan free steak deal, and she replied that it was her first day, and would have to ask her manager. So this 19 yr old pimply faced kid came out, told me the rules, and asked for my CC. Surprised at paying up front, he explained,"we've had people die trying". First the shrimp cocktail came out, then a salad, and then the massive steak, potato, and roll. Medium rare, and about the size of the Dallas phone book at the time. The first half was easy, the second half was like eating that Dallas phone book. But , having finished the steak , the baked potato was glaring at me. Not being a big baked potato fan , I eyed it right back. Then I heard a loud "PSSST!", coming from the seating area above me on the second floor. This guy and his family were watching the event, and he says, in a semi whisper, "Throw me the potato!". But not wanting to cheat, I managed it down. The manager came over, confirmed I had finished, I left a tip, and the room managed a short , small applause, and I attempted to rise, and leave with some semblance of honor. I was wearing a suit with suspenders, and had to unbutton my slacks to move forward. When I got out to my car, I was too swollen to get behind the wheel, so I grabbed my hanging bag, and slowly walked across the parking lot to the Big Texan Motor Hotel. When I walked into the lobby, the clerk aske dif I was OK. I explained the feat I had just performed, and he grabbed a room key , handed it to me, and said, "you just pay when you leave, and good luck!" I still have the certificate.It made for great story telling .
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy. I did a 32 Oz and thought I was going to explode
ReplyDeleteWe were there this past Sept. We went to help carry a buddy out after he tried. He got everything eaten with the exception of 12oz of steak. And it's not really a steak. It's more like a roast. Kudos to anyone who accomplished it!
ReplyDeleteSo only $1 a pound for steak?
ReplyDeleteNot sure about your math.
Delete$72, yes. 72 dollars, yes. But 72 dollars dollars? That's what "$72 dollars" would mean.
ReplyDelete--Tennessee Budd
It was a dollar an ounce if you had to pay for it, or that's how I recall the sign.
DeleteI might have tried it when I was younger, but I wouldn't consider it now. I pass through there every few years, but usually stop at Dyer's for the BBQ.
ReplyDeleteBack when I lived there, the locals loved the place. Kept the tourist crowds and the noise out of our good steakhouses. We had much better quality steaks for less and could talk to each other....
ReplyDeleteA friend completed the challenge three (I think, might have been four) times. He was then informed that he'd hit the limit and could no longer take the challenge.
ReplyDelete