Can you finish a big burrito in 2 minutes?
MANILA, Philippines - Happy hours, affordable beer buckets, guest DJs, free appetizers, and most recently, quiz nights — these have become the go-to gimmicks bar owners have relied on to bring in more people to their venues. And it’s not hard to be swayed by these promos, given that they offer more bang to your buck, or in cases like ladies’ night, no buck at all.
Restaurants have also employed their own marketing efforts, hoping to attract intrigued taste buds with whatever gourmet gimmicks they have for them. Some let you eat as much rice as you can for a relatively cheap price. Or give you a lovely dessert and a cheerful staff serenade when it’s your birthday. Many restaurants lure you in with their business lunch promos and set meals that come with a free drink; then there are a few that not only allow you to spend less but also promise to make your dining experience a more exciting and memorable one. Now, those are surefire great deals!
Down To The Last Bite
Adam Richman is known among the couch potato foodies as the guy with a huge appetite. In his reality show Man vs. Food, he travels across the US to face tummy-twisting food challenges such as sizing up a 72-ounce steak or finishing a very spicy ramen in half an hour. The show doesn’t promote such a lifestyle or encourage overeating, Richman confesses in an interview. Instead, it is “about once-in-a-blue-moon indulgences.” And it is perhaps for this same reason why Burger Avenue dares its patrons to gulp down its Ridiculous Burger in five minutes or less.
It may be nothing compared to what Richman had to face in Boston (a 12-lb. hamburger), still it proves to be quite a challenge for many. Burger Avenue’s sub, which is stuffed with three beef patties, juicy tomato slices, lettuce, and cheese, seems to taste good, but that should be the least of your concerns if you wish to win the contest, get the burger for free, and have your photo posted on its wall. If you fail to meet the challenge, then you must cough up P270 and most likely, suffer that dreaded bloated feeling. As of writing, more than 3,000 people have braved the burger in the A. Venue branch and more than 100 in the recently opened Fort Strip branch. The fastest gobbled the whole burger in a minute and 28 seconds, which is just about the same time it takes for me to savor a bite or two.
Ristras in San Juan poses a similar challenge, but this time in the form of a big burrito. Each roll is packed with rice, your choice of meat, beans, onions, corn kernels, salsa, guacamole, and chili sauce, making this particular dare harder than devouring a burger as things can be quite messy. As long as you beat the current record, then your meal is on the house. And as of this writing, that would have to involve 800 grams of burrito wiped clean in two minutes and 44 seconds. Now, if that doesn’t seem to be quite a feat, then you can take on the Godzilla Burrito challenge and finish a 2.5-kilo Mexican roll in 90 minutes or less. If you succeed, then your name will be posted on the Wall of Fame and you get a bragging rights shirt. Otherwise, you have to pay for your food and settle with a bruised ego and appetite.
Up For A Surprise
Italian restaurant Tosca has a number of tricks up its sleeve that many food and wine aficionados will definitely find quite interesting. For instance, have you ever had your menu taken care for you? You can just sit back, place the napkin on your lap, and let the chef prepare for you a mouthwatering three-course meal, which will unravel itself as the dinner unfolds. Tosca reveals a surprising set meal to its diners on Tuesday nights. You won’t have an idea what dishes the chef will whip up; your only clue is that it will use the featured ingredient of the night. It’s like a spinoff of Iron Chef, only this time you’re in a much more intimate setting (not the Kitchen Stadium) and you’re no longer a spectator but the judge.
Come Wednesday, Tosca lets you have your fill of premium whites and reds for as low as P600. And being a three-time Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient, it guarantees a fine selection of wine that will surely have you in high spirits (no pun intended). Now, here’s the catch — soon as the clock strikes six, the hotel bar and restaurant turns into a gastronomical Wall Street where the prices of wine appreciate by the hour, based on the supply and demand. Several bars in the US have already employed such a gimmick, like Chicago’s Bull & Bear where beer has become the alcohol at play. And it’s just about time that we enjoy the same customer-friendly and interactive theme. It’s a fun concept that will certainly leave no bad seat in the house, only empty bottles.
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Burger Avenue is located at A. Venue, Makati Ave. (telephone number 729-9108) and The Fort Strip, Fort Bonifacio (970-8277).
Ristras is located at the Citiplace Building, 8001 J. Abad Santos St., Brgy. Little Baguio, San Juan (tel. no. 748-7519).Tosca is located at the mezzanine floor of Dusit Thani Manila in Ayala Center, Makati (tel. no. 867-3333).
