El Gigante at Banditos
So Justin and Leah Falciola are down for the long weekend to hang out. Upon hearing the news that they were comming Jamie Biondo told them one must see is a burrito sold only at Banditos Mexican Restaurant in Chapel Hill or Durham. The burrito is called El Gigante and it weighs four pounds. Four pounds of beans, rice, onions, green peppers, salsa, guacamole, and whatever other slop they decide to throw in. The challenge is that if one person can eat the whole burrito then they get a free t-shirt and their picture on the wall, and they get bragging rights forever.
Strangly even though Justin and Leah were the ones visiting, it was Mike and Jamie who decided to give El Gigante a try. They each ordered one of the huge burritos, costing around 15 dollars each, and after strategizing a game plan and going through the psychological preparation necessary for such an endeavor, they dug in.
Mike was sprinting, and we all soon became convinced that he could do it. Although he had to take a few brakes to walk around a little and let the food settle, he amazingly finished the entire thing in 16 minutes, just one minute shy of the all time restaurant record set in 1947 (ok I dont actually know when the record was set).
Jamie was a different story however. He had the added challenge that he didn’t like onions, peppers, or beans. Where Mike saw this as wonderful, having so much food in front of him, for Jamie this was more like fear factor. after 10 minutes he was about at the halfway mark, but the psychology of it was killing him. He kept battling, getting some tips from the recently finished Mike, and managed to get down to about the last pound, but he was not looking like he was in too good shape. He was sweating, his pace slowed, and he was seriously looking like he wasn’t going to be able to hold it down. However he dug down, found a small empty pocket in which to put just a little more rice and beans, and cleaned his plate.
Now we would like to say this was the end of the story. Both guys got T-shirts and they got their picture taken together. After we all paid however, Jamie hobbled out of the restaurant bent over like a grandma, and Mike wasn’t looking so hot anymore. Upon their leaving the restaurant, they both seemed to suddenly remember an appointment they had made, and the next we knew they were both out in the bushes behind the building reviewing the contents of those wonderful burritos.
So was it worth it? Heck yeah it was worth it. For a T-shirt and the fame and the picture on the wall it was totally worth it. Would they do it again? Lets just say they probably wont be looking forward to Leah and Justin’s next visit with quite the same vim and vigor.
Warren Said,
October 24, 2006 @ 11:08
Pansies! It’s only 4lbs? Why wasn’t I invited?
Sammy Carrillo Said,
January 8, 2007 @ 13:54
Food! Someday when I visit, I would like to take the challenge of eating those 4lb burritos. Diet! Who needs those stinkin diets!
John Watkin Said,
January 9, 2007 @ 11:56
Pfft. At the Bandito’s on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill, El Gigante is 6 lbs.
bradlands Said,
January 9, 2007 @ 12:24
Really? Well that day there was no El Gigante on Franklin Street. We tried to go to that one first, but it was closed for some strange reason.