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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Random Mon Jul 07 2014

Chicago's Best Food Challenges

Pie_eating_contest_1923.jpgGluttony in moderation can be a glorious experience. Yes, I just ate that entire pizza all by myself, and I'm going to Instagram my bulging belly for the world to marvel. But when gluttony becomes a competition, food consumption becomes slightly nauseating. Imagine eating five pounds of burgers and fries, guzzled down with enough soda to fill a fishtank.

We've all read skimmed those lists touting Chicago's best burgers, or best steaks. But have you seen a list on Chicago's "best" food challenges? I would pay good price to watch a brave Chicagoan risk stomach ruptures for one of these dares:

The Fifty/50 Challenge
PLACE: The Fifty/50, 2047 W. Division St.
FOOD: 30 buffalo wings, five bacon strips, five onion rings, a side of mac'n'cheese, half rack of smoked ribs, six different kinds of sliders, 50 oz. draft beer
TIME LIMIT: 50 minutes
PRIZE: Money back, Fifty/50 t-shirt, photo on Wall of Fame

Rudy's Famous Burger Challenger
PLACE: Rudy's Bar and Grille, 69 E. Madison St.
FOOD: 5.5 lbs. of food served in a skillet (including bacon, eggs, potatoes).
TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes
PRIZE: a t-shirt, $100 gift

fatso_cont_img3.jpgFatso's Challenge
PLACE: Fatso's Last Stand, 2258 W. Chicago Ave.
FOOD: Po'Boy topped with cheddar cheese sauce,"humongous" side of fries, 32 oz. soda, two pounds of famous jumbo fried shrimp, coleslaw, mound of shoe string fries. (The po' boy is "three iPhones in length, one iPhone in width, and an iPhone in height.")
TIME LIMIT: 45 minutes or less
PRIZE: Free meal, $50 gift card to Lockdown Bar and Grill, t-shirt, plaque on the wall

Rockstar Burger Challenge
PLACE: ROCKs Bar, 3463 N. Broadway
FOOD: pretzel roll, four angus beef patties, eight slices of pepperjack cheese, eight slices of bacon, onion strings, 1 lb. of fries (4 lbs. total)
TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes
PRIZE: free meal, championship t-shirt, entry to rockstar wall of fame

Do You Dare?
PLACE: Jenny's Steak House & Pub, 11041 S. Menard St., Chicago Ridge
FOOD: 64 oz. prime rib roast OR 32 oz. London Broil with two dozen fried shrimp, plus soup, salad and a double-baked potato
TIME LIMIT: not specified
PRIZE: 50% off next dinner bill for you and up to six guests for the rest of your life, recognition on wall of fame

 
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Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

The State of Food Writing

By Brandy Gonsoulin

In 2009, food blogging, social media and Yelp were gaining popularity, and America's revered gastronomic magazine Gourmet shuttered after 68 years in business. Former Cook's Illustrated editor-in-chief Chris Kimball followed with an editorial, stating that "The shuttering of Gourmet reminds...
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About Drive-Thru

Drive-Thru is the food and drink section of Gapers Block, covering the city's vibrant dining, drinking and cooking scene. More...
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Editor: Robyn Nisi, rn@gapersblock.com
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