Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Frank Pastore :: Townhall.com Columnist
I Held the "Big Texan" Steak Record for 21 Years, Until Last Night
by Frank Pastore
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


The Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas, offers a Free 72 oz. Steak—if you can finish it in less than an hour.

I’ve done it seven times.

The meal consists of a shrimp cocktail, dinner salad, roll and butter, baked potato and The Steak. Yes, it 72 ounces—that’s four and-a-half pounds—about the size of a large phone book.

And no, I didn’t get sick—not once.

Of course it’s good. Delicious in fact!

No, I can’t do it with any other food. I tried, got sick every time—and I gave up.

The secret? It’s all in the wrist—the cutting motion is a lot like throwing a nasty slider.

The first time I did it was in February 1976, on my way to my first Spring Training with the Cincinnati Reds, and I did it in 21 minutes. That fall, on my way home, I completed it in 19 minutes. The next spring, 17; on the way home, 15; the following spring, 13; then 11 on the way home in 1978.

My fastest time—and the world record for almost 21 years—was set in May 1987 in which I did it in 9½ minutes. I thought it would be my last time through town, since my career was coming to an end, and I was right. I haven’t been back to the most famous steak house in the world since then.

I’ve always been so proud of The Record. In many ways, I’m more known for The Steak than I am for my 8-year mediocre pitching career or my radio show in Los Angeles.

But, until yesterday, no one had ever eaten The Steak faster than I had.

I got the message from Bobby Lee, owner of the Big Texan, when I got home from my show last night. He said, “I hate to tell you this, the guy that beat Kobayashi’s hot dog eating record last year at Nathan’s has just beaten your record. I saw him do it myself. He did it in 8:52!”

So, naturally, I hopped online and found that I had lost to Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, currently ranked #1 by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. He holds gobs of records, is just 24 years old, and is simply the best competitive eater in the world, who likely will go on to break every record there is.

You know, these professionals are taking all the fun out of gluttony.

Congratulations, Jaws. I can’t wait to watch the YouTube video of you doing it!

Share:
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author
The Frank Pastore Show is heard in Los Angeles weekday afternoons on 99.5 KKLA and on the web at kkla.com, and is the winner of the 2006 National Religious Broadcasters Talk Show of the Year. Frank is a former major league pitcher with graduate degrees in both philosophy of religion and political philosophy.
 
TOWNHALL DAILY: Be the first to read Frank Pastore's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com daily lineup delivered each morning to your inbox.
Frank: You made me smile... :-)

Although, I can't imagine anyone eating anything the size of a phonebook in less than a week

:-)



Try again another day!
I am very familiar with the "The Big Texan", but never even dreamed of attempting the challenge;-(

Nothing to be proud of
Laying aside the obvious problems of engaging in gluttony, then posing as a specialist in proper Christian behavior, let's examine Mr. Pastore's food choice.

I hope the animals that produced his over-sized steaks were raised on a real farm where it received humane treatment, grazed on grass (the appropriate food for herbivores) and contributed its wastes to a sustainable production cycle.

If, Mr. Pastore's steaks came from animals that were crowded into gigantic feedlots where they were pumped full of corn and had their poop dumped into adjoining lagoons where they became a major waste problem, he certainly has nothing to be proud of. Not only is he a glutton, he is either ignorant of the implications of his food choices or willing to act irresponsibly.


Frank, I am glad you have a good ...
taste in your mouth concerning my part of Texas. I live just 80 miles from Amarillo and go there often. I have only eaten at the Big Texan once and not the big one.

I just prefer a more leisurely enjoyment of my steak. Since we raise our own, the challenge is not my thing.

I am impressed with your record though. I can't finish my salad that fast!

johninoregon needs to lighten up...
have a little fun once in a while.

Glad you have good memories of
my hometown. You made me smile on a very long frustrating day

Thanks!!

johninoregon
Your statement reminds me of something I observed a while back.

Liberals have this notion of themselves as being more fun than conservatives. Conservatives are "uptight", right?

I mean because nothin' says "PARTY!!" like a big hunk of tofurkey and some green tea. Whoohoo! Let it all hang out!

johninoregon
Lemmee guess: You live in the People's Republic of Portland, right? Your idea of a wild and wicked Liberal's night out is a glass of overpriced Chablis and a slice of while pizza, no? If real men -- and women -- were not eating steak you would join the great quest to save the endangered steer species. Lighten up.

Big Texan Steak
For many years, I enjoyed steak. My favorite was a two pounder T-bone at Pinnacle Peak. On rare occassions, I would order aother.

I drove through Amarillo several times,(always at the wrong time of night) and looked forward to their challenge, fully expecting to lose, but in anticipation of a great steak diner.

Eating against a competitive clock would have held no interest for me.

Today, retired, living in the Philippines, my "red meat" consumption has decreased by about 90%.

I DO, ocassionally, salivate when my taste buds remember two-pound T-bones at Pinaccle Peak.

Mike Farrell
Cagayan de Oro
Philippines




Things change
I have passed by the Big Texan Steak house hundreds of times since the late 60's and last year I finely stopped on my way to Oregon with my wife. I don't know how it was in pre 1987 but in 2007 it was the most mediocre steak I have had in years.

Amarillo, the Best Kept Secret in Texas
I have dined at the Big Texan often while I lived in Amarillo, and I would have never considered trying that bet. I believe the youngest person to succeed was a 10 year old!

Amarillo is a great place to live!

You're the man...
Frank. I get full eating an 8 ounce filet.

A Great Story
Where else but in America!

Thanks, Frank.

I detect
... a LOT of BULL in the article and in the thread....much more than 72 oz!

/pun off

Congrats Frank!
Finally, an article by Franke I can agree with. Stick with the steaks and stay the heck away from Mitt Romney. You're much more likable as a glutton than you are as a bigot.

You dah MAN
Hope your keeping a watch on that cholesterol. Yikes!

I love this country
Despite all the negative news, you have to know we live in a wonderful country when we award people for extremes in eating. We are really doing okay!!

Then "normal"?? people like me can be awed by the skill of our champions.

The next time I decide to go with the regular hamburger instead of the quarter-pounder just so I can have a few more fries, I'll remember the men who ADDED a 72 ounce steak to what would be a full meal for me.

Holy Cow! Ooops, sorry cow... I'm so insensitive.
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
*
State:
*
Zip:
*
Phone:
      
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.