Spring Break
Four-pound burger challenge ends in disappointment
Nicole Wilke
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Features
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Grandma Max's is a basic truck stop restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa, that challenges its meat-loving diners to eat the famous four-pound burger in one hour.
If you succeed, you get a T-shirt and your picture on the wall with the other "Big Max Masters." If you can't do it, you're forever branded under "Tried and Died."
Katie Quattrini (E2) decided to take on the monstrous Big Max this past weekend. Quattrini has been a food fan her whole life and has a stomach like a steel trap. If any petite college girl could make it through, she's the one.
"Oh, I could do that," she said when presented with the burger challenge. "For sure."
On the drive to Urbandale, Quattrini stayed pepped up - ready and very hungry. Upon arriving, Quattrini told the waitress she needed a Big Max and a chocolate malt.
"I'm really hungry," Quattrini said.
Quattrini sipped on her malt while she waited about 10 minutes for the burger to arrive.
It looked more like a birthday cake than a burger of any kind. It was nearly a foot in diameter and more than four inches tall. There were two whole leaves of lettuce on top, and the pile of ground beef was blanketed with cheese.
The other people in the restaurant were staring.
"The record is seven and a half minutes," the waitress said. "The guy did it one night in seven and a half and came back the next night to try to do it faster."
Quattrini decided to eat it in quarters. Each quarter of the Big Max was the size of a regular hamburger. She doused the platter-sized bun in ketchup.
"It'll help it go down better," she said.
The first quarter was gone in eight minutes. Quattrini had to take a break before she took on the next quarter.
"I shouldn't have eaten that malt," she said.
Quattrini groaned and took a few deep breaths. After a brief motivational speech, she started the next quarter. She began slowly, but then started to gain a little momentum.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 16
Jim Seamans
posted 10/13/08 @ 7:35 PM CST
Fun story. I'm ready to take it on Big Max.
Timmy 37
posted 10/15/08 @ 3:43 AM CST
The TD staff should take note that when the featured article on their website is about a girl not finishing a four pound burger, it brings into question if the TD is an attempt at quality journalism or just a drunken Comp 1 project. (Continued…)
Jennifer R.
posted 10/22/08 @ 2:22 AM CST
Interesting story. The Register ran a similar story to this a few years ago, but it was about one of its own staff members. I'm glad the TD took the time to find someone not affiliated with the newspaper. (Continued…)
harry
posted 1/16/09 @ 12:53 PM CST
to grandme max's
i've already eaten a six pound cheese burger with lettuce,tomato,mayonnaise,onions,ketchup and mustard under a hour. so i know i can eat that burger in a half an hour. (Continued…)
Janet Reese
posted 2/25/09 @ 12:56 AM CST
This sounds like a great program and a great way to improve education in our schools!
Wilma Walker
posted 3/05/09 @ 11:06 AM CST
I have to agree with teh poster above... :/ looks like a lot of hot air to me.
Linda Eaton
posted 3/05/09 @ 11:22 AM CST
That looks like lots of fun. When I was in college we didn't had so many fun activities.
Catherine Dering
posted 3/11/09 @ 12:22 AM CST
I thought this debate was about them, as opposed to featuring them. Whoops.
Dawn Redden
posted 3/11/09 @ 2:47 AM CST
That looks like lots of fun. When I was in college we didn't had so many fun activities.
Holly Colburn
posted 3/11/09 @ 3:16 AM CST
I thought this debate was about them, as opposed to featuring them. Whoops.
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