True Tales of Gluttony!

I went to my "other" board to look for a chili recipe for psychchef (see thread). I couldn't find a great one, but happened upon a thread that still makes me chuckle, and figgered I'd ressurrect it here:

"When I worked at Canal Place Theater, an enormous gentleman asked for a large popcorn (bag so large you could stuff your head in it, if need be), but layered so that the butter-oil would be dispersed evenly throughout the popcorn. That wasn't an unheard-of request. But, on top of that oily mess, he wanted a comp cup filled with the butter, so he could add more at his discretion!!! Needless to say, I was stunned.

After the total concession transaction took place, he asked me "Are there free refills with this size popcorn?" I took stock of the situation, and told him, "Sir, if you can finish all this off and still need more, the next bag is on me."

Has anyone seen, experienced, or committed any amazing feats of gluttony? Be gentle!! Names can be changed to protect the gluttonous."

Original Thread.

When I am dragged kicking and screaming to Old Country Buffet it amazes me what people do.Since you can make multiple trips,is it necessary to load a plate with bacon,only bacon?And this person was sitting alone.Not getting it for others to share.And I have heard of people trying to take home food from buffets in addition to what they had in house.

Ha! Totally. The closest sushi joint to my work is a buffet. Its not the worst thing in the world, let alone the worst sushi place in town and it's called "Little Tokyo II". Yeah! Nothin' like dining in a sequel!! But, I routinely see the "ample patrons" pile up ZIGGURATS of food on their plates, and also wonder "do they know they can always get more???"

I am one of those ample people and would never do that.The skinny people do it too.

Here's an interesting gluttony/buffet story. Shakey's in Calumet City was open as long as I could remember (so that's at least 1980-83, maybe earlier). For most of it's history it did a steady but normal amount of busy. Then it got crazy. You couldn't get in. Lines out the door (not an exaggeration. There were usually around 30-40 people in line OUTSIDE). People were waiting over an hour to get into Shakey's! Then--just like that--it closed.

One of these days I'm hoping to learn the Great Shakey's Mystery. Could people really eat so much cheap food to drive a place out of business? Or was it more likely bad management?

Hell yes Hattyn. You're absolutely right. And I'm no Steve Buscemi, but STILL don't load layers of fried skin and Ghee in a bowl with a straw! Point taken!

I (along with VI, ReneG and others) once ate at 24 different places in 24 hours -- during the 25th hour, I watched "Tampopo" and finished off a half-pound of jelly beans.

Hammond

I won a hot dog eating contest at Irving's on Broadway back in 1992 or so, I had a cool little trophy with a golden hot dog man on it but it was lost in a move. IIRC, I ate 27 hot dogs in a couple minutes, it was ugly.

I also ate an entire Carmens stuffed pizza in high school on a bet. In my defense I was riding 150 miles a week and playing lacrosse and soccer so I was able to burn it off Ah for the good old days.

I was at a buffet once and witnessed a wizened old asian woman knock over a patron who tried to take a couple crab legs when the tray came out. She had four plates and took every single crab leg as soon as it was set out, with people waiting in line behind her!

I can understand doing this as a dare,bet or contest.But I would not actually enjoy consuming that much food.I do not protest buffet when I have either no specific craving or when I have a craving for a variety of items.Even though I can have more I limit myself to two pieces of chicken ,three strips of bacon ,etc.I cannot remember the specific sources but I have heard that the brain takes twenty minutes to recognize you've eaten.

hattyn wrote:I cannot remember the specific sources but I have heard that the brain takes twenty minutes to recognize you've eaten.

I've heard that theory, too, and it probably explains the following anecdote. When I was an undergraduate at William & Mary, there was an Italian place in Williamsburg that had a Happy Hour special of all-you-can drink (soda only) AND eat (pizza, naturally enough). The one time I went, I and one other guy put down three 16 inch pizzas, and started a fourth, during a 60-minute period. Of course, these heroics were performed by two 19-year old fellows. But I think if we had been given twice the time, we would've eaten half the food (i.e., because our brains and stomachs would've had time to communicate and synchronize).

Hi,

Memory also has a function in eating.

I read an article where they performed experiments on brain damaged people whose short term memory was compromised. They fed their guest a very full meal. Took all the dishes and evidence of a meal away. Engaged the client in conversation and activity to distract them. After half an hour, they brought back a very full meal and invited them to eat. The client proceeded to eat with relish as if they hadn't eaten in hours.

From the contemporaneous interview, it was clear they had no recollection of just eating and by not recall this fact, they cheerfully ate a second substantial meal in less than an hour.

This reminds me of an incident when I was perhaps 10 years old. My Mother had miscommunicated with my Grandmothers. We had a full meal at my Mother's parents, then went to visit my Oma. Unbeknownst to us, Oma had prepared us Sunday dinner also. My Mom told us we were about to eat meal number 2 and say nothing about our first to avoid hurting Oma's feelings. Unfortunately, we were squirmly kids who had full knowledge of just eating. Of course, we spilled the beans in mid-dinner.

My dear late aunt had Altzheimer's the last few years of her life. She never remembered eating. She would have a meal and complain afterwards that she hadn't eaten. I took her out to eat during this time. When she ate, it was with such gusto that I thought she was going to eat the utensils!

When we were kids, my brother and I once had a White Castle hamburger eating contest to see not only how fast we could eat our burgers but how many in the fewest amount of bites. My brother consumed each burger in 3 bites; I took 4. My brother won.

Apple wrote:When we were kids, my brother and I once had a White Castle hamburger eating contest to see not only how fast we could eat our burgers but how many in the fewest amount of bites. My brother consumed each burger in 3 bites; I took 4. My brother won.

Apple, it took you FOUR bites?! You must have been a very small child, indeed. I can do a whole one in one, but my mouth is bigger than most.

Hammond