The Columbus Dagwood Challenge

I love a good sandwich. Fast, easy, and if done right, delicious. In this challenge our host Adam Richman ventures to Columbus Ohio where he will attempt the Dagwood Challenge. This is a 2½ pound Goliath that's got ham, turkey, roast beef and cheese, along with 1 pound of french fries. To complete the challenge and claim his...

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...t-shirt prize, get his name on the Wall-of-Fame, and impress some nice young lady from Ohio before he leaves, Adam has to finish it all in under 30 minutes. Before he dives right in to his challenge though, no Man vs. Food episode would be complete without being introduced to 2 new must visits in Columbus. To find out what the locals dig at chow time, Adam crashes a Tailgate Party at THE Ohio State University just before a game to get some advice on where to go;

The Thurman Cafe

Known as a Buckeye Burger staple, the 'Thurman burger is a huge ¾ pound beef patty, topped with sliced ham, caramelized onions, mushrooms and a massive amount of melted cheese. It is the house favorite at The Thurman Cafe. Any place that offers 18 burger choices on the menu, with 5 more they use on special menu days only, is a place that knows their burgers.

To truly appreciate the size of this 'lunch', it’s helpful to see it next to a regular burger, but even smashed down pretty good by hand, it is impossible to get your mouth around the whole thing for a complete top to bottom bite...well, at least nobody I know can do it. I'll bet Governor Strickland [current Governor] of Ohio could, but that's just a guess.

Just when Adam thought he was done here, they tell him there's an even bigger burger they sell but it's not on the menu since its only been ordered a few times. This formidable foe is called "The Thurminator". Adam heads back to the kitchen to see just how they make "The Thurminator".

Originally created for the body builders coming to Columbus competitions, The Thurminator is a powerhouse protein boost that would lift me into next week. (2) ¾ pound hamburger patties loaded up with american, provolone, cheddar, ham, bacon, sautéed onions and mushrooms, then mated with hand cut oversized french fries to complete a lunch challenge that even most college boys can't finish.

Schmidt's Sausage Haus

This place has made its claim to fame with 4 generations of premium sausage craftsmanship. Started in 1886, owner Geoff Schmidt's great Grandfather came here from Germany and opened a sausage packing plant that evolved into a restaurant that showcased their unique brand and flavors of sausage.

Known best for their extra long and spicy sausage the 'Bahama Mama', it’s made from a combination of beef and pork with the special blend of Schmidt's spices that are of course, a family secret. However, the Schmidt's don't stop there. The 'Autobahn', an all you can eat food bar has made them a favorite with locals.

Featuring unlimited amounts of every delicious sausage flavor they have, including the Bahama Mama, and an untold number of side dishes to ensure nobody goes away hungry. If you do somehow manage to have room for dessert, Schmidt's Sausage Haus offers a ½ pound cream puff which comes in three flavors.

Adam heads back to tackle Dagwood Mountain...

The Ohio Deli and Restaurant in Columbus is home to this Dagwood Challenge. This is a 2½ pound cold cut deli sandwich, with a pound of fries that must be downed in less than 30 minutes. Adam takes his seat and is presented with his nemesis. Cheers ring out from fellow patrons and everyone is rooting for him except an 8 year old boy with doubts.

The clock is started and Adam reveals his strategy. Break the sandwich in to 4 pieces and use the french fries as the bun. I thought this was a great idea since the thick layers of cold cuts needed some warmth mixed in with them. At the 15 minute mark Adam has ¾ of the Dagwood gone, but it looks like the sandwich is trying to come back out, so he takes a short break.

Anticipating a problem, a nearby patron offers to buy Adam desert if he can finish that last piece. Kids in the restaurant start cheering "eat - the - plate - eat - the - plate", and Richman refers to them as 'children of the corn'. He comes off his break and hammers down on the Dagwood and relieves The Ohio Deli and Restaurant of another winners t-shirt. It's another WIN FOR MAN.

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