Man v. Food takes on Tucson

Thursday, 01 October 2009 20:14

Outside Lindy's

“Two!” yelled Nadia Reilly, and the line outside of Lindy’s grew a little shorter, but only for a moment, as newcomers quickly joined the line in hopes of being the next lucky customer.

“I want to see if he’ll conquer what he’s eating,“ said Rick Rocha, a fan of the show.

Man v. Food

Richman has worked “in nearly every echelon of the restaurant world, from coast to coast and from the counter to the kitchen” and holds a master’s degree in drama from Yale University, according to the "Man v. Food" Web site.

In the show, Richman travels around the U.S. doing “food challenges.” In these challenges, he attempts to eat the signature dishes, often enormous or spicy, of local eateries.

The Travel Channel approached Lindy Reilly, the co-owner of Lindy's, a few weeks ago about doing a food challenge at his restaurant, said Reilly.

Reilly didn’t seem surprised that his restaurant had been selected for the next food challenge.

“I’ve got a bomb burger,” said Reilly.

Inside Lindy’s

With a good-natured grin, Richman held up a stack of 12 frozen hamburger patties and looked into the camera.     

“Adam! Adam! Adam!” chanted the crowd as they waited for Richman to finish filming in the kitchen. A waiter frowned at the crowd and shook his head. The crowd, not to be discouraged, began to chant “Lindy! Lindy! Lindy!”

If Richman completes the challenge, his picture will be posted on the wall with rows of other customers who have successfully eaten the O.M.F.G. or its predecessor.

"Ninety-five percent of the photos are of people who ate the Hooligan, “ said Reilly, referring to a hamburger half the size of the O.M.F.G.

“People were crushing The Hooligan,” said Lindy’s wife, Nadia. So they created the O.M.F.G. to put the appetites of Lindy’s customers to the test.

Man v. Food Fans

Some people outside Lindy’s hoped to challenge Richman to an O.M.F.G. duel.

Before Richman arrived, several attempts had already been made to conquer the gigantic hamburger.

Some were successful, but others had to throw in the napkin.

One eater, Cole Peters, managed to eat the 3-pound hamburger in 10 minutes, three minutes longer than the record.

Even after eating the 12 hamburger patties, 12 slices of cheese and all the toppings, Peters said he didn’t feel full.

However he did pay a price for his rush for the record.

“I got to the point where I was shaking. I had the meat sweats,” he said.

Other fans avoided the O.M.F.G. preferring to remain spectators.

Sherry Rodriguez and her husband, made T-shirts with “Man vs. Food Rules” written above a photo of Lindy’s.  They even made one for Adam.

“We all do very much appreciate our loyal customers coming here. It’s very cool,” said Nadia Reilly.

Still hungry, Adam?

On Sept. 26, fans of all ages came to El Guero Canelo to watch Richman chow down on a Sonoran hot dog.

Fans gathered early in the morning so they could reserve their seats for the day’s event.

Children stood on top of tables holding neon posters that read “We love you Adam!” while parents danced to a mariachi band that played in honor of Richman's visit.

While local fans of “Man v. Food” traveled only a few blocks to watch Richman guzzle down a Sonoran hot dog, some fans traveled a great distance.

The Parker family flew 10 hours to watch Richman in Tucson. They watched Richman the day before at Lindy's and enjoyed watching Richman’s food challenge so much that they came to El Guero Canelo for the second day of filming.

"It's exciting to see Adam here in Tucson for a few days," said Joel Parker, father of three die-hard fans of "Man v. Food."

"We've been at El Guero Canelo since 11:00 a.m. and can't wait to see him again today," said Parker.

Some fans came to El Guero Canelo just to get a glimpse of Richman, while other fans' appreciation for Richman ran much deeper.

Some like Raul Soto, 8, want to grow up to be just like him.

He patiently paced around the front and back of El Guero Canelo holding a poster that read "Man v Food #1" and his "Chef Raul" apron for six hours.

Soto wears his "Chef Raul" apron when he cooks in the kitchen with his dad and brought it to El Guerro Canelo hoping Richman would get a chance to sign it.

Making the Sonoran hot dog

Daniel Contreras, the owner of El Guero Canelo, walked Richman through the process of making the famous Sonoran hot dog around 2:30 p.m. This part of the filming was off limits to the public.

Contreras and Adam started in the back of the kitchen and worked their way to the front.

Around 5:30 p.m. fans had a full view of Contreras and Adam making a Sonoran hot dog. The fans started to grow impatient when the camera crew built a make-shift wall out of cardboard boxes and blocked off the pick-up window so no one could interfere with the taping of the show.

Richman’s fans did not let a few cardboard boxes stand in their way.

People still gathered around the counter next to the window but were prohibited from taking photographs. Fortunately, Soto was able to push his way to the front and sneak a few pictures while no one was watching.

When Soto told his mom the good news, he told her their day wasn't over yet.

"I took four pictures but they were not very good. Now I just want him to sign my apron," Soto said.

••••

The "Man v. Food" episode filmed in Tucson will air Dec. 2 on the Travel Channel.

El Guero Canelo is located at 2480 N. Oracle Rd.

Lindy’s on 4th is located at 431 N. 4th Ave.

Written by Tiffany Kimmell and Curtis Prendergast You are reading Man v. Food takes on Tucson articles