At 8 p.m. tonight, Adam Richman, the star of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food, who travels the country "in search of the biggest, baddest food challenge," takes on the seven-pound burrito at Jack-n-Grill, Jack Martinez's New Mexican restaurant at 2524 Federal Boulevard.
This is after Richman has tested burgers at the Cherry Cricket and tried Rocky Mountain oysters at the Buckhorn Exchange. And he's also fighting a cold, which could help explain why:
Richman doesn't finish the burrito. See for yourself tonight on the Travel Channel.
I was at the restaurant for five hours back in January, watching while the Travel Channel crew worked its way around the extended Martinez family to set the stage, watching as a Jack-n-Grill regular managed to finish an entire seven-pound burrito, earning himself a place on the Jack-n-Grill photo hall of fame and free lunch the very hard way. (A woman who finishes the burrito gets to eat free for good.)
And then came the main event: Richman sat down, and Martinez -- Richman said he looked like "the devil" -- brought out a burrito bigger than a newborn baby. It filled the bowl: a dozen eggs, pounds of potatoes, a pound of ham, lots of cheese, and Jack-n-Grill's excellent green chile. Richman managed to keep up a running commentary with the crowd even while shoveling in spoonfuls -- big spoonfuls -- of the stuff.
But about two-thirds of the way through, Richman surrendered. Food wins.
Again.
