Just a little snack

for the first time in my life I ate at Cheeseburger Cheeseburger in Chandler, (Arizona). I and my wife and kids met my wife's parents there. After we all were seated, my father-in-law turned to me and asked me if I wanted "the burger".

He of course was referring to the one-pounder, actully the patty is twenty ounces precooked. Answering like it was no big deal, because it wasn't, I told him yes.


After about another fifteen minutes and one sierra mist, three mug root beers, four cups of water, and half a regular size frings later, I got my "big" burger, as everyone recieved their own food, (all others ordered hamburgers except my daughter which got chicken tenders.


After finishing my "big" burger I was approached by one of the many watching restaurant employees and asked if I was full. As I looked over the rest of the table I was sitting at, noticing that no one else had even completed half of their meals, I answered with all honesty, "not-really".

My father-in-law, a little surprised, asked me if I wanted another burger, (which I had wanted all along but was not planning on asking since they were buying our dinner.
Our server surprised as well, took the order and remarked that she thought that I ate "a lot", and later on during my meal that I "was of the fastest eaters" that she had ever seen.

I responded by telling I told her that her that I had three one puond burgera at Fudruckers before with lots of sides and two shakes, (as well as always getting two one burgers there at a time), and that this was no big deal, and that was just how I always have "eaten".


After the first one was consumed it was announced that I had eaten the one pound burger. It was added in a much quieter tone, trailing the announcement, that I was "planning on eating another one".

The second burger came to the table in about another fifteen minutes. After the wait time in which I only took in liquids, (about two more cups of root beer and water each), and a couple fries, I began to again another one of their "large" hamburgers.

The second one was much more satisfying, for the first one was not much more than a tease. Something else was different about the second burger in addition to the relative satisfaction gained, it looked almost bigger than the first.

My wife noticed too. I'm not sure if as a joke to see if I could be stopped short of finishing my second burger, or the cook was just generous and in some way "rewarding" me for finishing one and actually ordering another one, but meat appeared to have been added to the patty , (which would be easy because their meat is supposed to be not ever frozen). Perhaps a five and one-half ounce patty was merged with the larger one before cooking. Maybe not, but it looked larger anyway.

The way that everyone working in the burger restauran who could see was watching me eat the second burger almost makes me wonder if the larger appearing meat and the cheese, which was actually doubled in amount on he second burger as opposed to the first, was constructed to see if I really could another one, (even a slightly beefier one). If this was a challenge, then it was overcome with great ease as I finished my meal.


The people working at the restaurant were very surprised that I had completed two of what most people considered "monsters".

One 20 ounce burger, one perhaps larger, half of a regular sized frings, and about fourteen glasses of soda and water combined; not such a bad meal. I left satisfied but not stuffed! I try not to eat till I get "full" I stop when complacent.

On the way out the door I could see that my picture was already posted on the wall, which stated that I had eaten "two 20 ounce" snack burgers. One guy I noticed a picture of had eaten three of these burgers, and had a picture set aside on the counter. The burgers here were very tender and many many times I have eaten more food than today in this restaurant, so the next time perhaps a more filling three burgers will be downed.

Sorry no pictures were taken. I did not know if this place would taste that great, and only planned on eating two max. Only two burgers I believe is significant for a blog entry, but not one with pictures. Please post a comment if you disagree, and I will make sure to add photos of meals like this which would be considered "minor" feats by many.

I'll post again soon

Russell "The Black Hole" Blackwell

The next trip to Arizona Mills

Today, June 2, 2007,was my second trip to Arizona Mills Nathan's Famous hot dog eating competition as well as my third professional eating event. Although ill-prepared due to the fact that I a few months prior had received an email tell me that I had only qualified to be on the "standby" list I took no time to practice. In fact the last time I have even consumed a Nathan's Famous dog was sometime back as far as mid september last year.

What hot dogs they were too. Without warning my stomach was assaulted by a much greasier pile of food than I am used to.Within the first five minutes of the competition I took down nine hot dogs but suddenly hit that "oh crap" wall when the grease hit my stomach and piled up. My esophagus told me no more, so I slowed to a crawl, but I did beat my last year's number , finishing 13 3/4 this year as opposed to 13 the previous year.
It is always nice to meet new people ans see familiar faces as well. This was the first time I had met Joey Chestnut, Justin Mih. Russ Keeler, and Mongo Federighi. It was also a pleasure to again speak with Rich Lefevre, Jason Erb, Tim Brown, Todd Yeats and a few others. Joey had a heck of a performance as did Rich, Tim and many others!

It made me laugh to note that I was stopped twice by fans, feeling like a minor celeberity I entertained a host of questions by both a baloon vendor Paul and later before I exited the door a guy named Jeremy selling cell phones.

Prior to the competition I added fresh juice, (squeezed from an actual lemom and lime), to my cups of water. That could have been helpful, but the water was so warm, it was kind of difficult to wash the dogs down with them. Next year at Nathan's I plan on bringing my (own) chilled drink. I had a lot of fun at the event. It was also nice to see Ryan Nerz again.

I will be adding a few more entries about the Arizona Mills event on my Blog Page as well as a (late) recap of my trip to the sky city fry bread competition way back last November. I also heard at the competition that someone holds a record record of some sort eating steak; a 72 oz steak in like 23 minutes. I'd like to say that I honestly believe I would beat that, and a one on one between myself and the other gentleman could be very interesting.

See, unofficially I consumed approximately (the estimate was quite accurate while simultainiously being very conservative (it could have easily been a 6-8 ounces larger than stated)) 82 oz of steak, plus or minus only 3 oz in only 12 minutes 3 1/2 seconds.

This is no joke, but I did not even bother to cut these Sirloins because they were both so tender and had almost posessed almost no fat. I simply ripped it by had and took in chunks which were approximately 1 1/2 inches on a side, (steak was about 7/8 inch thick after cooked -medium well). I had two of the largest steaks available at an all you can eat buffet which offered steak, one after the other.

The first one hung off of the plate in all directions, almost taking up two plates. The other one filled at least 1 1/2 plates. I used to order two "little" and very "unfilling" 20 oz steaks at a time at dine in pay-for-what-you-order steak houses and each of the steaks I had that night at the buffet location was at the very least twice the size of those, with no bone and almost no fat.

Lean food, less grease, that is my kind of competition, however I will say I love Nathan's Famous dogs! To get back to what I had mentioned before, I do plan on taking the 72 oz steak houses challenge and "try" to eat their 72 oz steak plus "sides", (baked potato & salad), in just one hour.

Are you kidding me!! What the heck would I need so much time for? An hour? I will have eaten desert and left long before that time would ever come!

I and my wife both forgot to bring our camera today to the Nathan's Famous competition, so I am apologize for having nothing to post (visually) concerning the AZ Mills event, however for the steak "venture", my wife will be there with camera in hand.

This, (the beef-slab take-down), I plan on doing soon this summer! I would like anyone who may be reading my new blog post, (and perhaps the old ones as well), to please leave a comment of two concerning my upcoming "steak dinner" too bad no one could be on hand, like a member of the media, to see if I would "beat the current "record" for one 72 oz steak. That would be sweet, but anyway I hope to post some photos and perhaps a video of my taking down the 4 1/2 lb of meat like its nothing more than a mere snack!

More to come, please feel free to comment. Rich or any other eater who was there in AZ today or who I have met before, if any you are reading this, I'll have to see how I do against any of you and others at next year's Nathans in AZ, and other competitions in the meantime!

Steak! Steak! I think I see fear in the eyes of the 72 ouncer!

Pictures to come

I have not had a chance yet, but soon i plan on adding a few pictures to my blogsite, just to let anyone reading know.

Computer Working again 100 %

I should be posting text and pictures of my exploits very soon. Stay tuned!

Computer is down, but I am in the process of fixing it

I will be up and running as sdon as possible again. I look foreward to posting again. Please enjoy what I have already written when you (anyone) happen to be reading this. I will post again soon, again chronicling my food exploits, among my normal daily activities. The previos post was origionally written on the fourteenth. As soon as I get my cmputer fixed I wilkl post pictures of the 72 oz steak challenge (actually , just a "normal meal" after I go, "I am waiting till I can get a crowd since many people I know said they would "like to see me eat it". Four and one half pounds is actually quite small, as I ate that much plus a lot of desert last weekend at the Golden Corral, in Goodyear (AZ). This time I am posting from my own computer and will continue to. Steak beware! I cannot wait till the july fourth hot dog finals. The champ from the land of Nippon is goin down!, well maybe. Althouth it looks as I may not be going to San Fransisco I cannot help but feel the yearning to be there.
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Computer having "problems"

I am accessing another computer obviously and am/will be making every attempt to bring mine back up into operating order as soon as possible, retaining all of my current files. Feel free to read and post comments.

On toward this coming weekend:

Among other activities this weekend, including perhaps a movie (maybe Cars), some time spent with my wife, son, and daughter, I will be hunting down a good, and filling, location to appease my appetite.


If I can I will be attending the grilled cheese event in Las Vegas this weekend, but I'll have to see. I think the opprotunity would be great, and as a bonus, the trip would be my first, even thoughI live a mere handful of hours away. As I said before I love grilled cheese, and you can never have too many, ok maybe like 150 would make a person explode but you get the point.


Whether I make it to Vegas or not, I plan on eating some sustainance of another kind locally, good 'ol juicy steak. If the Golden Corral Family steakhouse in Gilbert, (Arizona), is alrady fully complete and openen, that will be my first choice, for there is nothing more appetizing than a decent quality buffet, with "real" steak to boot.

Last Saturday when I was on the way to the competition, I took a shortcut from the US 60, to part of the loop 202 heading toward AZ Mills Mall because of traffic backup. I purposely chose stapely-cooper road, because I knew that the resteraunt that I was just speaking of, according to a webpage about real estate listed as nearly complete. Upon a quick passing I noticed that a large near roadside banner said "now hiring". I also noticed that a truck was parked at a door near the rear and unloading bulky items, probably kitchen equiptment, or tables/chairs.

Prior to this one, a toatal of four times I've already attended the one in or near, (not sure), Goodyear. I love the place, but I almost laugh when I get a lifted eyebrow upon making a request for four to five pieces of steak at a time. Supprized, however, the man, or woman, beihind the (glass/plastic?) dutifully fufills my request, although one guy was being stingy and complained when I wanted more than two slices of his "teenie'weenie" maybe 2 oz. slices. I don't take slices anything smaller than 3-5 oz. After about 4-5 plates of steak, chicken and other items plus one or two of desert, I often pat my stomach swearing I won't ever go there, or any buffet place again, just to wish I had eaten more a mere two hours later.

Hopefully this place is open, because could you imagine the bill at pay-as-you-order steak house? If it is not I wa thinking about trying the largest steak 'in town', or at least the largest one I've found.

I noticed a newspaper add in the tribune I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, which highly praised "Dirtwater springs" in Apache Junction, (AZ), a relatively short distance from my house. If the 72 oz. steak and atmosphere is as the article states, I will be well pleased, as I plan to take down the steak, and it's "fixings", down like it an afternoon snack. To be serious about this, you have a whole hour to "finish" what is less than an ordinary Golden Corral visit for me. The leaner the steak, the better! Only one question remains; if I am given a whole one hour time period to clean my plate, then what do I do the rest of the time?

Good luck to those in Vegas this weekend, hopefully I'll be present and share in that fortune!