Bergg vs. Food

"He came, he chewed......he CONQUERED!!"

2010-01-16T19:38:00.004-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, it brings me great pleasure to be able to bring to you all some very exciting news! This afternoon, Bergg successfully claimed the new record in the "Wiener and Still Champion" Triple Undisputed Burger Challenge. The time to beat was 14 minutes and 11 seconds, which Bergg beat with an astonishing time of 13 minutes and 50 seconds!!

It was an extraordinary experience, and sight to see! This post is just a preliminary post for what is soon to come.....to follow this up, as quickly as I can, I will have a new post up, recounting the entire challenge, with pictures, quotes and video content!!

Please stay tuned, and check back daily, as I will be posting material all weekend!!

Let's all tip our hats to Bergg for his astounding act of heroics and bravery in becoming the new champion of the "Wiener and Still Champion" Triple Undisputed Burger Challenge! Congrats Bergg, you did it!!!

"On the Heels of Divulgence"

2010-01-15T15:54:00.000-06:00

In less than 24 hours, we will all witness Bergg attempt to take on the Triple Undisputed cheese burger at "Wiener and Still Champion", and do so in under 14 minutes and 11 seconds....

As we all sit here, thinking in our minds: "How can this possibly be done???", Bergg is in the middle of the grueling process of preparation. Here is a small glimpse of his activity, on this eve of battle with the beast:

For breakfast, he had 3 pieces of toast with peanut butter, a sizeable bowl of cereal, and lots of water. Throughout the day, he has been hydrating with plenty of water, and has been consuming fruit and nutrition bars continuously. Lunch consisted of a large salad, mostly lettuce. The goal behind this, as described in previous posts, is to stretch out his stomach, as efficiently as possible. The lettuce acts as a "filler", successfully stretching his stomach, little by little. Dinner for tonight......as much lettuce and water as possible!

On tap for the gym, Bergg will be spending a full hour doing solely cardio work. After which, he will be working with his trainer, in a 45 minute session of weight lifting.

"After finding out, on Wednesday afternoon, about the feat of nature that was the man who ate the burger in 14 minutes, I decided that I was not going to just match that number, I was going to set the time so low, that no one will ever be able to top it. I'm like Ron Dayne taking the rushing title from Ricky Williams, I don't want to just own the record to see it slip away a year later...I want the title for life."

So, we all rest tonight with anticipation building, as we wait till tomorrow afternoon, when we watch Bergg face his fears, self doubt, and intimidation from the burger. Tomorrow we follow him along on this great journey, and we will all be cheering him on as he proves that on this challenge....he will indeed reign victorious in this grand battle of "Bergg vs. Food"!!!

If you can make it, please come out and support Bergg!!

Date and Time: Saturday, January 16th at 1:00pm

Location: "Wiener and Still Champion"
802 Dempster St.
Evanston, IL 60202

http://www.wienerandstillchampion.com/

See you there......come hungry!!! Happy Eating!!

T-SHIRTS FOR SALE!!

2010-01-14T15:43:00.004-06:00

We just got the first batch of t-shirts done!! These shirts not only support "Bergg vs. Food", but will also be going to a good cause.

One dollar from every sale will go towards a donation to World Vision: Haiti Earthquake Relief to help those in desperate need in Haiti.

Sizes run a little smaller than expected, as they have already been pre-shrunk, but I have S, M, L, and XL.

Please help fund not only the "Bergg vs. Food" conquest to conquer as many eating competitions as we can, but also those in need after such a horrible tragedy in Haiti.

If you're interested in ordering a t-shirt, please email me, or order through paypal on the sidebar of this page.

Happy Eating!!!

UPDATE - New Record Set!!

2010-01-14T13:32:00.000-06:00

This just in....the old record of 28 minutes has just recently been broken by Dan Pagliuzza. He took the "Wiener and Still Champion" Triple Undisputed Challenge and finished the 3 lb. burger in 14 minutes and 11 seconds!!

http://www.wienerandstillchampion.com/

What does this mean for Bergg?.......While this may cause the weak and feable to bow their heads in shame and embarrassment while walking away with their tail between their legs, this is not the case for Bergg! He is only further fueled by added competition like this. He will meet this new challenge with as much, if not more, determination than before.

This will certainly be quite the spectacle!! As stated before, everyone is encouraged to come out and cheer Bergg on. Below is all the information on the event, please stop by if you can!!

Date and Time: Saturday, January 16th at 1:00pm

Location: "Wiener and Still Champion"
802 Dempster St.
Evanston, IL 60202

http://www.wienerandstillchampion.com/

See you there!!! Happy Eating!!

A Brief Look at History, One "Bite" at a Time....

2010-01-13T14:22:00.001-06:00

"They say that competitive eating is the battleground upon which God and Lucifer wage war for men’s souls." -George Shea, Chair of the International Federation of Competitive Eating

When looking through the history books, I was shocked to learn how far back this crazy, albeit entertaining sport goes. So, let's explore the vast history of competitive eating....

Competitive eating, as we know it today, mostly consists of restaurants that partake in the goal convincing one customer to consume an unimaginable amount of food, often in a specific amount of time, and in some cases, with an incentive added. In addition to this, we have all become very aware of the famous "Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest", held every year on the fourth. This event, whose home is at the original Nathan's restaurant in Coney Island, New York, dates all the way back to 1916. It has been said that on July 4, 1916, four immigrants were having an argument about who was more patriotic, which they settled by battling it out by way of a hot dog eating contest. The contest has been held every year since.

In more recent years, those who have braved this daring feat have gotten international recognition, as well as face time on ESPN. This event has become wildly popular for viewers, keeping a large number of us tuned in each year....with some of us watching in awe, while others can't manage to stomach it....turning away, yet catching themselves looking back to watch this spectacle unfold.

In the end, there can only be one winner. One man or woman, who manages to fight off the feeling of satiation just long enough to consume the most hot dogs out of anyone. To this one brave soul goes the spoils....the coveted international "Mustard Belt". This bejeweled belt has become quite the icon in the competitive eating world, and has spent a large portion of its life in the country of Japan, where it had been on display in the Imperial Palace. This was all thanks to competitive eater, and internationally known hot dog eating guru, Takeru Kobayashi, who had a six year streak running, from 2001 to 2006. The belt has since been moved to the United States, as a result of Kobayashi being dethroned by American, Joey Chestnut.

While he one day hopes to work up to this stature of competitive eating, Bergg is completely focused on his current task at hand. As you all know, this task entails his consumption of the undisputed 3 lb. cheese burger in under 28 minutes, at "Wiener and Still Champion", in Evanston, IL.

As we are growing nearer to this event, which will take place this Saturday, January 16th, at 1pm, Bergg's preparation is in full force. Here is a look at his game plan for the day: As a precursory tactic for stretching out his stomach, Bergg has decided to up the length and intensity of his workouts, to allow for a larger amount of daily food intake. For breakfast today, he had his daily hearty bowl of cereal, followed by a yogurt, with toast and peanut butter as a side. He is also religiously drinking water throughout the day, to be sure and keep extra hydrated. For lunch, he will be keeping it simple, having turkey chili, veggies, pretzels and a banana. Along the way, Bergg has begun to think up of some very interesting preparatory tactics along the way, involving soda and a bit of acrobatics.....

"I figure, carbonation and jumping should help expand my stomach...but then i need to worry about supersonic belching."

....we'll see how that one turns out!

For the afternoon/night schedule, Bergg will continue with his daily workout, with an increase in cardio to begin to jump start his metabolism. The menu for dinner will consist of pizza and salad, again paired with plenty of water intake.

"What I'm training to do on Saturday is not healthy. I'm trying to ready my body as much as I can to make sure that whatever I consume on Saturday is going to be treated by my body as what I call a "free radical" or something that happens to the body once in a blue moon."

So he continues, day by day....committed to the task at hand, preparing himself for the hurdle he so valiantly placed in his path....carefully planning out his each and every move....building himself up to the task at hand, training in both a physical and mental capacity....knowing the goal WILL be met this Saturday, when he will heroically take on this monstrous burger, in the next "Bergg vs. Food" challenge!!

Until next time, stay tuned.....Happy eating!!

"The Art of Kuidaore"

2010-01-11T12:43:00.001-06:00

Well ladies and gentleman....the countdown begins....5 days and counting, until we all cheer Zach (aka Bergg) on to set the new record at "Wiener and Still Champion", in Evanston, IL. To review, this means he will have to consume a 3 lb. cheese burger in under 28 minutes (the current record). Due to scheduling conflict....(or possibly intimidation), the defending champion, Qumar, who originally planned on appearing at the event this Saturday to then re-claim the record (should Bergg break the current record), will no longer be attending. Although, he has made it clear that he is considering coming back at a later date, should he need to re-claim his record.

As promised, I will be keeping you all informed, every step of the way, in this grueling process of training and preparation for Saturday's event.

Let's start today's post with a little bit of some very interesting, and not commonly known history:

There is an old Japanese term, "Kuidaore", which is roughly translated to: "to ruin oneself by extravagance in food". This term was coined in the city of Osaka, as Osaka was the only major city in Japan that allowed the merchant class to spend more than 100 yen a day, but they could only spend it on food and drinks. This term was also paired with a former tourist attraction, or "pleasure district", named "Dotonbori". In the past, this tourist spot was filled with historic theaters, shops and restaurants. This is how the term "Kuidaore" became so popular, as it was used in many businesses, including the naming of a famous mascot, "Kuidaore Taro", a clown linked to the famous restaurant, "Cui-daore". So, while the noble and samurai classes of Tokyo and Nagasaki would eat and drink and live modestly, Osakans were urged to drink too much, eat way too much, and live too much! So, in comparison to what we plan on doing on Saturday, we're still taking up second place to the true gluttons, the citizens of Osaka.

In Bergg's noble journey to emulate this ancient art of eating in mass quantities, he has implemented a specific routine, to properly train for this daring feat:

To start out the week, he made sure to eat breakfast, as he always does. On this morning's breakfast menu: Kashi cereal, with plenty of water. Lunch will consist of: a large salad, with plenty of lettuce, wheat pretzels, and plenty of water, with dinner still to be determined. The goal of this week, is to slowly but successfully stretch Bergg's stomach, to allow room for the massive burger.

"While I'm entering this competition to eat a giant burger, its still extremely important for me to maintain my normal healthy diet. I take the stance that this burger challenge is a free radical that can be balanced out with healthy living 6 days out of the week."

His afternoon workout will include:

60 minutes of hard cardio work (30 minutes of elliptical, 20 minutes of running, and 10 minutes of stairs) followed by 30 minutes of lifting.

So will this path of careful eating and strategy for specific preparedness pay off?? Can we expect to see Bergg meet this beast with a look of fear and regret on his face??....Or, will we see his ever so familiar look of determination?....The type of determination that drives him to block out any thought of failure, never letting it even enter his mind, knowing all to well that there exists only one option for him....a motto he has followed throughout his life: "Win or go home!"

Upward and onward!! Stay tuned....many more updates to come!!

Happy eating!!

----UPDATE!!!---- New Challenge Met With Ultimatum!!

2010-01-06T14:32:00.000-06:00

This just in.....the current champion of the "Wiener and Still Champion" 3 lb. cheese burger challenge, Qumar, recently caught wind of his new found competition, and has provided an ultimatum to our upcoming challenge!!

If Bergg indeed does break Qumar's current record of 28 minutes, on Saturday, January 16th....Qumar has claimed that he will then appear at the site of defeat, and face it by trying to break the eminent new record, to be set by Bergg!!

It's a showdown ladies and gentleman.....winner takes all....with not only a new record at stake, but a sense of self-pride and perhaps a bit of showmanship as well!!

This is certainly shaping up to be a very entertaining afternoon/evening!! Spectators are not only welcome, but encouraged!!

Date and Time: Saturday, January 16th at 1:00pm

Location: "Wiener and Still Champion"
                 802 Dempster St.
                 Evanston, IL 60202
                 http://www.wienerandstillchampion.com/

"The Delicate Process of Preparation"

2010-01-06T10:49:00.000-06:00

In the coming week, as you all know, Bergg will be preparing for his next challenge, a 3 lb. cheese burger prepared by "Wiener and Still Champion", in Evanston, IL. The challenge is not only to finish this monstrosity, but to do it in record time, under 28 minutes.

When I asked Bergg about his thoughts on this new hurdle, he told me:

"In no way, is eating this amount of food safe, but if you can at least prepare your body for it, you can lessen or avoid any physical damage. Mental though.....that's another story."

I am fully committed to keeping our readers updated with the grueling process of training for this event, keeping you all in the loop each and every step of the way. So check back often, and enjoy the wild ride!!

Get a sneak peak at what Bergg will be up against at our gracious host's website:

http://www.wienerandstillchampion.com/

!!!!NEW CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!!

2010-01-05T15:18:00.003-06:00

Zach (aka "Bergg") has just accepted a new challenge!!! While we wait for feedback from readers on our previous poll, a new challenge has come our way!! The next challenge takes us south of the border...(the Wisconsin state border..)..to "Wiener and Still Champion" in Evanston, IL.

http://www.wienerandstillchampion.com/

As if the name itself isn't intriguing enough, this burger place is challenging Bergg to finish a 3 lb. cheese burger in under 28 minutes!!

Bergg is determined to do this in record time, and based on his preliminary challenge, he knows what he's up against!! If I can hopelessly humor you for a second.....he's seen the other team's playbook, he's studied their every move, he's more than prepared.....he's destined to be victorious in what we're going to call..."Take Two" of burger challenges!!

If there's anything that fuels Bergg to reign victorious more than the shear aspect of being number 1, its the support.....and nagging, of fellow on-lookers.....(believe me...it nearly worked last time, and that was an even bigger monster!!) So, if you can make it, please come out and cheer him on!! Celebratory drinks will be had following the event......that is for everyone but Bergg....he'll probably want to stick strictly to Pepto Bismol after that beast!!...

Hope to see you there!! Happy Eating!!

Date and Time:   Saturday, January 16th at 1:00pm

Location:    "Wiener and Still Champion"
                    802 Dempster St.
                    Evanston, IL 60202
                    http://www.wienerandstillchampion.com/

New Horizons Ahead!

2009-12-28T16:03:00.000-06:00

Well, Happy Holidays to all you readers........are there any readers out there???.....well, we'll get there. During this much needed upcoming break from the stresses of work, Bergg and I have a plan to organize the next "Bergg vs. Food" challenge, but we need your help!! I'm leaving this decision up to the readers....given there are any....otherwise this may be a very long process of waiting on a decision :) So, whether we know you personally, or you are a new reader from an unknown land to us, please comment and give us your input and opinions.

Here are the options for the next "Bergg vs. Food" challenge:

1. Brick 3 Pizza - 34in. Pizza Challenge

2. Johnny V's Classic Cafe - "The King (or Queen) of Johnny V's Challenge": 8 pancakes, 10 eggs, a plate of hash browns, 3 pieces of bacon or sausage, a slice of ham, AND two slices of Texas toast!!

3. Painted Parrot - 2 lb. Burger Challenge: 2 lb. burger with 22 fries and 2 oz. of soup in under 22 minutes

Keep in mind that I will also be providing an overall review of the chosen restaurant, critiquing the food, service, atmosphere, and so on. Let us know what you think!!

Happy Eating!!

"Bergg vs. Food" - Challenge #1: The "S.O.B."

2009-12-14T15:23:00.002-06:00

Challenge accepted on: December 10th, 2009 @ 8pm
Challenge results: Food wins over Bergg
Running tally: Bergg-0, Food-1

Greetings all!! Our first "Bergg vs. Food" challenge takes us to the outskirts of the Milwaukee downtown area, to the "Home of Milwaukee's Best Burgers".....Sobleman's.

On this frigidly cold winter night, our thoughts were; what better way to warm our hearts and spirits than to kick start this extravaganza with the first challenge! So.....with a quick call over to Sobleman's, a couple friends, and a determined Bergg, we were on our way!!

As we pulled up to Sobleman's, the majority of us were concerning ourselves with how we were going to bare the cold and run as quickly as we could to get into the warm, cozy Pub. When looking at Bergg's face, one would not have gotten this same feeling.... This was a face of complete determination. A look reminiscent of the great Muhammad Ali, as he gleams at his opponent, starring him down with eyes of fury, as to silently say: "you have already been conquered..." So with determination and intrigue, we all ventured into the pub, and took our seats.

As we sat down at one of the open tables, we happened to notice that we coincidentally picked a table housing a framed picture of who we would soon learn was Bergg's opponent, the defending "S.O.B." champion. Pictured right there in front of us was a man who, as of November of this year, had set the new "S.O.B." record, 9....no joke, 9 1/3 pound burger patties!! As Bergg looked at the picture of this man and the tower of meat he had successfully taken down, a look of concern came across his face.......BUT, this would not defer Bergg from his goal. As the waiter got around the table taking orders, it came upon Bergg to make that ultimate decision; wimp out.....or go for it? "I'll take the "S.O.B." challenge, 10 patties, let's do this!!" Let the games begin, Bergg was in!!!!

Now before I continue, lets review the rules and requirements of this great feat. As stated before, this monster burger consists of 10 1/3 pound beef patties.....as well as 10, count 'em, 10 pieces of bacon, and 40 pieces of American cheese! The shear number of patties, bacon, and pieces of cheese is enough to astonish anyone, but lets break this down: that's a total of 3 and 1/3 pounds of meat, almost 3 and a 1/2 packages of cheese, and what we can only estimate to be a considerable amount of bacon from a decent sized pig.... Needless to say, this was no small task!!

So, with a full beer and fear beginning to creep into his eyes, Bergg was beginning to strategize in his mind. Before we knew it, with a steady hand and eager eye, the waiter carefully placed this giant tower of meat in front of Bergg. As the "ooo's" and "ahh's" of the spectators in the restaurant began to fill the room, a dead silence came over everyone at our table. It was clear to us all now…..the challenge had officially begun!

The preliminary methods chosen by Bergg were very successful….at first. His strategy was to take two patties at a time, breaking this beast down to 5 double cheeseburgers….much more manageable….right?... As the rest of us began to chow down on our diminutive single burgers and fries, we looked at Bergg with awe. Could it really be done? Could he possibly succeed in getting this enormous amount of meat, cheese, and bacon down? We would soon find out!

As the minutes flew by, and the beer and conversation continued to flow, one couldn’t help but feel the gleaming eyes of spectators from surrounding tables begin to turn our direction. Though Thursday Night Football was on one television and ESPN blaring on another, it didn’t seem to matter to anyone. There was a new game in town, a new form of entertainment, an act of heroism and courageous efforts to be seen..…..this was Bergg’s time!!

So, with the support of the entire Pub, both costumers and staff, Bergg was determined to continue divulging on this feast. At this point, we have reached the halfway mark in what I like to call the “Pattie Count”. To clarify, this means that Bergg had successfully finished 5 patties (that’s over a pound and a half of meat!!), and numerous pieces of bacon and cheese. At this point, the mere smell of meat was beginning to make even me sick. (keep in mind I had only finished half of my single burger in this time….so I had nothing to complain about!) It began to show in Bergg’s face, both in expression and coloring, that he was beginning to slow down. Was this it? Had he reached his point of standstill?......No, not just yet!! With a bit of encouragement and support from all of us at the table, he was back at it!

Several minutes, and 3 patties later…...it was clear, that was all mighty Bergg could handle. While he tried his best to shovel more meat in, it almost seemed to dejectedly fall right out…as if his body refused to take any more. It was official….he couldn’t take anymore….sadly, food had won over Bergg this time.

Now, before we all sigh in defeat and sadness, let’s break this down one last time. In Bergg’s astounding efforts, he had successfully finished a total of 8 patties, 5 pieces of bacon, and about 30 pieces of cheese!! That’s almost 3 pounds of meat!! Truly a courageous attempt to become the new champion. As we looked down at what was left, thought back to the picture in our heads of what it was to begin with, and the applause from spectators began to engulf the restaurant, one couldn’t help but to get goose bumps. In his attempt to kick start this long lasting challenge of becoming food champion at various destinations around the city of Milwaukee, Bergg had really set the bar high. This just goes to show how determined and driven he is to prove himself, and show the world that he too can conquer the food world. So Bergg, my hat goes off to you in your exalted efforts and various struggles to become the reigning champion of Sobleman’s….and if anything at all should be taken from this, it’s clear to us all, you truly are one tough “S.O.B.”

That's the skinny, and I'm sticking to it!!.....Until next time....Cheers!

-Michael

Welcome!!

2009-12-14T15:18:00.002-06:00

Welcome all, to the first of many posts of "Bergg vs. Food"!!!

Let me premise this blog by explaining its purpose: Since the glory days of my undergrad at UWM, my close friend and confidant, Zach, aka "Bergg", has strived to prove himself as a prime candidate for various eating competitions around the Milwaukee area. His drive stems from a popular show titled "Man vs. Food", and while this blog in no way intends to emulate or divert from "Man vs. Food", it is our own way of taking an appreciation for such a feat.

So, take a look around and please read the first event of this conquest!! Enjoy, and check back often, as we plan on continuing this monstrous task of determining who indeed can be bested, in the great battle between....."Bergg vs. Food"!!!!!