One in Nine!
Those are the odds of finishing the meal. But it’s not just any meal; this is an extreme challenge. You have one hour to consume a 72-ounce sirloin steak, baked potato, salad, roll, and 3 shrimp.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. A cherished storm chasing tradition is treating yourself to a steak dinner after seeing a tornado. And if this happens near Amarillo, Texas, you’ll be headed to the Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Photo from the Los Angeles Times
In the 75 years of the restaurant’s existence, nearly 100,000 optimists have taken the challenge. The reward? If you can eat everything in one hour or less without standing up or throwing up, it’s free. If you fail, it will cost you $72 (but the doggie bag is free).
Eight months after opening in March 1960, Big Texan founder R. J. Lee hosted a 1-hour steak eating contest featuring 12 hungry cowboys. The reward consisted of bragging rights and a $60 prize.
The winner devoured 4½ pounds (72 ounces) of steak, a baked potato, salad, a shrimp cocktail, and a roll. Inspired by the mighty meaty feat, Lee laid down the challenge to every restaurant guest. “Anyone that can consume the steak challenge winner’s eating accomplishment in one hour gets it for FREE.”
When you see it, you immediately wonder why anyone would take on the challenge!
Photo from the Big Texan
Every challenge has record holders and the Big Texan is no exception. The unofficial record for all animals, including humans, is held by a lioness in 2012 who devoured the meal in just 80 seconds.
Humans are a bit slower. The record was held for years by Joey Chestnut, a fierce competitive eater and the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog eating champion. His time was 8 minutes and 52 seconds.
On May 26, 2014, he was bested by 125-pound mother of four Molly Schuyler. Molly polished off the meal in just 4 minutes and 58 seconds. But wait, there’s more! She asked for seconds and ate her second dinner in 9 minutes and 59 seconds.
She returned to an eating competition at the Big Texan on April 19, 2015. Her opponents, football players and professional wrestlers, didn’t stand a chance. She ate her first meal in 4 minutes 18 seconds, besting her own record by 40 seconds.
She then proceeded to consume two more meals for a total of three meals in twenty minutes! Molly was about to start on a fourth, but the Lee brothers called “Calf rope!” She earned $6,000 in prize money and a place in the Guiness World Book of Records.
Molly Schuyler from Ohama Magazine At the Big Texan June 3
The Shot
On June 3, we broke another storm chaser rule. We went for a steak dinner at the Big Texan despite not spotting a tornado. With some trepidation, we entered the packed restaurant and waited 45 minutes for a table.
At the Big Texan, June 3
While we were there, six men attempted the challenge. Only one finished. You can live stream the gluttony at Live Stream – The Big Texan in case you are interested.
The happy winner June 3 while we were there.
We had bad luck June 4 and wondered if breaking the rule would keep us from spotting a twister. But on June 5, we encountered 5 tornadoes near Morton, Texas. Today’s Friday Photo is the first of those funnel clouds.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus