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Wimpy’s Paradise offers five, half-pound Angus chuck burger patties, topped with four slices of Tillamook cheddar cheese and two fried eggs on a pretzel bun. Beat the Burger and win a place in the Belly Bustin’ Burger Hall of Fame. STSN photo by Tracy House
Tom Knodl, Rob Mayo and Travis Foutch prepare for the Wimpy’s Paradise’s Beat the Burger challenge. STSN photo by Tracy House
August 15 - September 4, 2015
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Tom Knodl, Rob Mayo and Travis Foutch after the Wimpy’s Paradise’s Beat the Burger challenge. Knodl finished the burger in 15 minutes and 47 seconds. He is one of only two people to take the challenge and finish the five-story burger. STSN photo by Tracy House
Wimpy’s burger challenge not for wimps BY TRACY HOUSE
Food fans Rob Mayo, Travis Foutch and Tom Knodl roam the East Valley every week, looking for an eating challenge. “A bunch of us get together every Tuesday night. We go to different places” to check out the challenges laid down by restaurants, said Mayo, of Mesa. Mayo once beat a burrito challenge, eating a 7-pound monster he said was as long as his arm. The trio’s most recent quest: Eat a burger made of five, half pound Angus ground chuck patties, topped with four slices of Tillamook cheddar cheese and two fried eggs on a pretzel bun, in 30 minutes or less, earning a place in the Belly Bustin’ Burger Hall of Fame at Wimpy’s Paradise. Randy Walters, owner of Wimpy’s Paradise and Pittsburgh Willy’s, introduced
the Beat the Burger challenge in February. Eleven people have tried it, but until the Mayo-Foutch-Knold trio stopped by, only one challenger completed the task. Foutch, from Chandler, said he tried the burger challenge just for the heck of it, and skipped lunch as part of his preparation. For Knodl, of Scottsdale, this was the first challenge he’d tried in a year. “I was supposed to drink a lot of water, but I forgot to,” he said. The trio donned black gloves in order to eat the mound of meat. Each had his own approach to the 2 ½-pound burger, but by the halfway mark Knodl had made the most progress, taking the last bite and finishing in record time of 15 minutes 47 seconds. While Mayo and Foutch continued to eat, Knodl offered to help them out, and then
ordered a Twilly (Twinkie, hot dog, bacon and peanut butter) and ice cream just for fun. Knodl said it was a shame to rush through the challenge, the burger was so good. Mayo and Foutch agreed. “The patties taste really good,” Mayo said several times throughout the challenge, who added he’d probably finish the burger later in the evening. Foutch saved his for lunch the next day. If a group would like to try the challenge, Walters mentioned that they should call ahead to make sure there’s enough beef. Walters’ father owned two Wimpy’s Paradise restaurants in 1939 in Pittsburgh. He left to serve in World War II, and when he came back, he didn’t reopen them. “When I was a kid, my dad and I had a talk. I remember asking if he had any regrets in life. He told me the only regret he had is he
never reopened Wimpy’s when he came back from the war,” Walters said. “It was always my dream to finish his dream. The hot dog place (Pittsburgh Willy’s) was my dream, and I wanted to bring his back.” The two restaurants are under one roof. Wimpy’s Paradise and Pittsburgh Willy’s is located in downtown Chandler at 48 S. San Marcos Pl. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday (serving breakfast), and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Visit the website at www. wimpysparadise.com to view the menu and for more information. Tracy House is a freelancer for SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@ santansun.com.
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