For a celebration of gluttony, check out some of the best food challenges in the area.
By Alexandra Hruz

In light of the recent popularity of shows such as Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel, we sought out the top food challenges in Knoxville where you can be forever immortalized on the walls of local establishments—and maybe even win a free T-shirt. Who doesn’t want the opportunity to tell your grandkids, ‘I once ate a 30-ounce burger in half an hour and lived to tell the tale.’ Just remember, a clean plate is a happy plate. What’s at stake? Your pride. And your waistline.

Buffalo Wild Wings
Blazin’ Challenge
1912 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville 37916
www.buffalowildwings.com
THE GIST: This chain sports bar touts 14 flavors of sauce and hosts an ongoing nationwide challenge for its patrons—eat 12 wings doused in the restaurant’s Blazin’ sauce in less than six minutes. No ranch or honey mustard sides allowed here. Just for safety’s sake, have the fire department on speed dial. These wings can make the manliest man cry for his momma. And don’t forget—eternal glory is on the line.
THE PRIZE: Eat these smokin’ hot wings in six minutes or less and you can purchase a Blazin’ Challenge tee and have a photo of yourself (and your scorched mouth) put on the wall of champs. You just have to ask yourself, was it worth it?
THE RECORD HOLDER: Join the ranks of fiery eaters across the country when you complete this challenge. The Cumberland Avenue locale gets about 12 contestants a month, and only half complete the test.

The Roaming Gnome
The Challenger
716 20th St., Knoxville 37916
www.gnomepub.com
THE GIST: After replacing Strip landmark and popular watering hole Charlie Pepper’s in 2008, we weren’t sure how we felt about this newcomer. But add a food challenge to the bar-cuisine menu, and you’ve won us over. Take a bite out of the Gnome’s 2-pound Challenger burger (complete with all the trimmings) and accompanying pound of fries in less than 30 minutes to win. It’s not for the faint of heart (or stomach).
THE PRIZE: If you finish the colossal burger and fries in less than 30 minutes it’s free. But you better keep on trucking because the giant dish is $19.99 if you don’t wolf down every bite. Bragging rights to your friends for at least the rest of the day? Priceless.
THE RECORD HOLDER: The Strip’s Gnome location estimates that about 1 in 10 challengers actually finish the hefty portion of burger and fries. The Maryville joint has a person come in each day to test their luck with the Challenger.

Sweet P’s BBQ and Soul House
El Gigante comida
3725 Maryville Pike, Knoxville 37920
www.sweetpbbq.com
THE GIST: Only professional eaters need apply. This challenge will send novices home early. Try this for starters: a 5-pound pork burrito (two pounds of pork, one pound of slaw, one pound of beans, 1/2 pound of cheese, 1/2 pound of tortilla) sided with 1/2-pound portions of macaroni and cheese and banana pudding. And yes, you have to finish all of it (within one hour) to be crowned champion. Let’s hope your stomach is bigger than your eyes.
THE PRIZE: Just the sheer pleasure of accomplishment. And probably a whopping stomachache.
THE RECORD HOLDER: The first ten challengers went home with their heads down in shame. Will you be the first to conquer El Gigante?

I Love N.Y. Pizza
Pizzilla Challenge
6518 Chapman Hwy., Knoxville 37920
www.nypizza-knox.com
THE GIST: It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Pizzilla! This monster of a pie is 28 inches of cheese, sauce, dough and toppings, and is enough to send anybody running for help. Bring a friend (and the $40 entry fee) and try to tag-team eat this pizza in less than an hour. No alcohol, no breaks and make sure you’ve got a stomach of steel—there’s a cleanup fee for those who don’t make it to the back dumpster.
THE PRIZE: Complete this challenge in one hour, and you’ll score the mother lode—the pizza and drinks on the house, a photo on the wall and two free custom t-shirts.
THE RECORD HOLDER: No duo has conquered this Everest of pizzas yet. Can two Cityview employees take top honors? See below.


Women vs. Food
Two Cityview staffers take on the Pizzilla Challenge at I Love N.Y. Pizza. Will they be the first to conquer the monster pie? By Alexandra Hruz and Lindsey Hughes

Thoughts before the challenge begins:
Alex: I’m not feeling that hungry. I had a big breakfast.
Lindsey: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

The pizza arrives.
A: That’s a lot of cheese.
L: Holy crap.

The first few bites...
A: We decided that rolling the slices up would be the best way to do this. We also worked out that we needed to eat one slice every 15 minutes to finish.
L: The pizza is really good but the cheese is so gooey and it is so greasy that it is already hard to eat.

Ten minutes in...
L: I guess I was eating too fast because I got a wad of cheese stuck in my throat.
A: I was laughing so hard when you started pulling that piece of cheese out of your throat. Don’t worry, I made sure you were going to be ok before laughing.

Halfway through...
A: I pushed through and started on a second piece when one slice really would have been enough.
L: Thank goodness I’m not banking on a career in competitive eating. I could barely finish one slice!

Final thoughts...
A: I can’t believe we could only eat three slices total in an hour. Our entire office staff couldn’t even finish off the rest of the pizza when we brought it back.
L: I was mentally prepared until the waitress told us the pizza weighed ten pounds. The size didn’t bother me at first, but then I realized the pizza was an eleventh of me!