On the peak of a winding rural highway in rural Pennsylvania, not far from the truckers' town of Breezewood, there lies a roadside cafe named the Shrub Ridge Inn. Unremarkable from the outside, we chanced upon this modest eatery in a moment of need (desperate for lunch, it was the only place we could find open at 3pm on a Sunday). And how fortunate we were to discover this unique establishment. For it is the home of the 84oz steak challenge.
As we entered the restaurant, our attention was caught by the 'Good steaks at Good Prices' notice board, offering a tempting selection of Porterhouse steaks ranging in size from a hefty 12oz to an indigestible 84oz serving. Once I had recovered from the shock of seeing that apple sauce was offered as a vegetable rather than an accompanying condiment, I asked our waitress whether anyone had ever managed to successfully stomach the 84oz whopper.
It appears that, in recent history, two people have accomplished this feat. On November 26th 1993, a Mr. David K. Dillon (weight 355 lbs, height 6ft) of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania wolfed down the dish in an incredible 28 minutes. This record time still stands, but last year, on 28 December 2007, a certain Mr. Doug Weller (weight 215 lbs, height 6"1'), accompanied by thirteen friends, attempted the challenge, which he completed without injury in 57 minutes - sneaking in just under the hour, thus ensuring his supper was on the house. We were shown a number of photos of the event, as well as an article from the local newspaper, containing this memorable excerpt : "When I walked into the dining room, I could feel a calmness, enthusiasm and confidence and when I looked at Mr. Weller, he looked full and ready to explode, but not from the food, but from the power and force of his friends..."
To give you an idea of the size of the 84oz steak, this video - filmed at the Big Texan Steak Ranch near Amarillo - demonstrates what it takes to eat a 72oz steak:
"I'll go get the paperwork for you"...only in America.
But we're not talking about a mere 72 oz. The Pennsylvanian locals have set the bar considerably higher. 84 ounces. That's over 5 lbs of meat. So if you're feeling peckish and would like to try the 84 oz steak dinner, call the Scrub Ridge Inn a week in advance on 717 485 5150.
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