Video: Back in Bakersfield

This post is dedicated to Dave "US Male" Goldstein and Aaron Wakamatsu. It's good having friends who are supportive and ask lots of questions.

It's about my second stop at the Bullshed Bar and Grill in Bakersfield. My last visit was in late June, when I was heading north and conquered their burger challenge in about 32 minutes. 2.5 lbs of meat and 2.5 fries is considerable.



If I estimate the original challenge meal at 7 lbs, the new formulation had to be over 8 lbs. The management was concerned that too many people were walking away with a free meal, so they stepped up the difficulty considerably.

Instead of a patty stack with a sweet small bun, we now had a massive beef pile on an oversized dense bun. It was like eating a meatloaf sandwiched between two loaves of bread. I'd never encountered such a big bun before.

It was a fight putting down that huge bun. I needed to soak it in a ton of water because it wasn't softening like most breads. Damn you flour! Why do you hate me so? At least the vegetables were fresh and the meat was incredibly rich and well-seasoned.

And the fries... I wish they weren't part of the challenge. After the huge dose of bread, they didn't seem appealing to me. It was a hard fight getting through all the starch.

For the first time in a long time, I had a buzzer beater finish. The owner demanded that I finish every last crumb and I got in the last bite at minute 44. That will teach me to choose my breads and starch challenges well.

So there you have it, the Second Battle of Bull Shed. I don't think I'll ever be doing this challenge again. Best of luck to whoever takes on this beast challenge in the future. I'd rather ride the mechanical bull.

Bull Shed

The Bull Shed Bar & Grill is tucked away behind a series of hotels in Bakersfield. GPS isn't helpful, but there are plenty of signs. If you can find it, you might be able to take on their Big Bad Bull Shed Burger Challenge. You get 45 minutes to tackle a burger featuring 2.5 lbs of meat and 2.5 lbs of fries.

Winners get a shirt and a free meal, losers get a bill for $30 and a very full stomach. At the time I took this challenge, there were two previous victors. And for good reason! You've got a lot of starch to contend with, so I tackled the pile of wedge cut potatoes first.



The waitress was concerned that I wouldn't get to the burger in time, but 45 minutes is plenty. The fries tasted great. It wouldn't have been bad if this was a 6 lb fry challenge. Switching to the burger, I discovered a dense bun that tasted sweeter than brioche and burger meat that was well-seasoned.

Eating at a leisurely pace, the challenge was over in 32 minutes. I'd estimate the whole meal at just under 7 pounds. The heavy bread and vegetable toppings add considerable weight.

The restaurant was quiet when I visited on a Saturday afternoon. Some guys were playing pool on the far side of the dining area, and there were a few guys at the bar. It was nice to eat in peace for a change.

Maybe I would have tried their mechanical bull machine if I was there during its hours of operation. All I will say is they have a solid challenge going. They need to get more people in the doors! The environment was welcoming, the food was delicious, and the servers were attentive. I can't say that about every establishment.

The Knife's Edge

The closest finishes are the most cruel.

Matt "Sweet Tooth" Cohen nearly went the distance against the Daddy-O's Big One Combo challenge in San Diego. That's a 2 lb burger on a mammoth bun, with a large side of cheese fries, and a milkshake.

You get 45 minutes. "Sweet Tooth" plowed through the burger and lived up to his confectioner's moniker by annihilating the milkshake. About half of the fries separated him from victory.

This is still a "sweet" accomplishment. Matt has seen his capacity, endurance, and recovery time improve rapidly as of late. This 6 lb meal is no laughing matter.

As an eater, Matt is best known for his short-sprint victories. Think back to the Jose's Flautas qualifier in 2009, when he slammed 21 flautas in 4 minutes to go the finals. He's steadily transforming into a long-distance, high-capacity man.

Just a razor's edge away...