Tuesday, April 2, 2013

men v. food

We try to have the missionaries in our ward over for dinner at least once a month.  Usually, I go away from the evening just grateful for the spirit and example to our family they bring.  Last time they came, however, I wanted to duct tape Elder Briggs mouth closed.  He spent the entire meal relating his experience at Johnny's Pizzeria to Chad, who was drinking in every word.  This is a team challenge in which two people have 30 minutes to eat an 8 Lb. pizza known as the "Bronx Bomber" and/or the "Brawler."  This challenge was even features on the series Man Vs. Food.
At church the next week Chad found the guy he had decided was his best option to take on the challenge, our friend Doug Williams.  He was just as excited as Chad.  With the date and time set, Chad looked up food challenge prep, and had a big week of eating!
 
March 16th was the big day!  It is also my parents anniversary, so Chad dedicated his performance to them.  Both Williams families arrived at the little house, turned pizza joint, at the same time.  Doug and Julie and their five kids, and Chad and me with our three.  We filled one of the rooms that was set up with seating.  Then we spent the next 45 minutes trying to keep all of the kids contained while the pizza employee in charge tried to talk Chad and Doug out of it.  Then 30 minutes later they finally made the Brawler, and the pizza we had ordered for our families.
With the kids eating and cameras ready, and Chad and Doug ready to carry out their game plan, the timer was set and the challenge began.  Notice that they are smiling.

 Chad brought our pizza cutter from home to help separate the slices so that it could cool quickly.
 Then they opened up the top layer to continue to let the heat out.  Chad had read that this all meat and crust pizza would fry challengers mouths and render them unable to finish.
 They started very strong.  That big ol' pizza was disappearing fast!
 10 minutes into the challenge, we had all called the challenge as in the bag.  Even the skeptical pizza guy said it was one of the best starts he had ever seen.
 Julie and I had to keep the kids under control in the other room.  Chad and Doug had to do the challenge in the lobby in front of the pizza guy.  But this is the the progress they had made at that point in the challenge.
 Then things took a turn.  I would say it was for the worst.  The wall had been hit. With 16 minutes left, I knew it was over, but I kept trying to cheer on my man.  I think at that point he really didn't want any encouragement.
 With two minute left, Doug stopped eating.  Chad was taking mostly Porter-type nibbles
 They are no longer smiling and laughing.
 When the timer went off, this is what remained.  Chad had the pizza guy weigh his portion so he would know how close he had gotten.  He had 11 oz. left.  Doug followed suit and found that he had 18 oz. left. 
Walking out the door Chad told Doug they should come back one year from that day and give it another goal.  Doug wasn't quite as frustrated by the loss.  Chad didn't want to let it beat him.  Doug was okay with it.  I have my doubt this particular challenge will happen again, but Doug seamed open to finding a new, less greasy, one...
 
We ended the night with half a game of Phase 10 and ice cream.  I was thoroughly entertained by it all!

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