The Big Texan

So when in Amarillo, the thing to do is to go to the Big Texan.  We did our research and this is a true monument to American excess.  Count us in!

The legend is that the local cowboys had a steak eating contest to see who could eat the most 1 pound steaks in an hour.  The gentleman that won eat 4.5 of them (72 oz.) and the owner declared that anyone who could replicate the "accomplishment" could eat for free.

On the website above, there was a 125 pound woman that ate 3 of them in an hour.  She ate the first one in under 5 minutes.  Not sure if I'm suppose to be impressed or horrified.  Welcome to America!

So Lisa and I decide to try this place out and get a "taste" of what it is all about.  We were seated near the raised table in the center where all the action is.  They have a table for up to 6 eaters with clocks for the Final Countdown.

We ordered and waited.  No one was taking the challenge.  I guess a Monday night is not the night to do this.  I started to size up each person as they walked through the door.  The likely takers seemed to come in 2 categories.  First, the fatties.  Everyone that was a little overweight was a likely candidate.  I'm sure a few people thought I was "the guy" as I walked though the door.  Little did they know I was stuffed after a 16 oz. prime rib.   The second category was the stingy person.  These are harder to spot at first glance, but I didn't hesitate to judge them and hope.

One guy down the row from us was asking a lot of questions.  I thought he might be the guy.  He was overweight and he was concerned that he had to pay the $72 up front and would not be reimbursed until the end.  Both categories!  I thought we had a winner, but no luck.  So the next time we are in Amarillo, we will go on the weekend.  We had to entertain ourselves afterwards in the big chairs instead, but the steaks were very good.  Worth a stop if you are on I-40.