RESULTS OF THE PEANUT BUTTER BURGER BATTLE

You may remember last week Skinnyboy and I faced off in a battle to see who could make the best looking peanut butter topped burger (inspired by a similarly nutty burger I posted here on Mega Munch). Without identifying the chef, we posted both burgers (below) and allowed the votes to pour in on both of our blogs.

On the right are both burgers -- Skinnyboy's burger on top and mine on the bottom. The winner, by a score of 12 votes to 9 (counting Ian's diplomatic vote for both burgers), was Skinnyboy! Congratulations! I'll admit I thought the bacon would earn me more votes than it did. I also thought the two patties would be a good idea but, in retrospect, it seems a little much. In either case, it was a hard fought battle!

As for the taste of these burgers, to answer Steakbellie's question, the burger actually tasted surprisingly good! I'd highly recommend trying it sometime. For my topping, I didn't just use peanut butter. Instead, I combined peanut butter with a little coconut milk and soy sauce and microwaved it for a satay-inspired spread. Add a little bit of the latter two ingredients at a time until you get the taste you're looking for.

Next up in the Skinnyboy vs. Mega Munch Battle of the Burgers: Pizza burgers!

HICKMAN THREE-PEATS AS WHOOPIE PIE EATING CHAMPION

I'm eating a cream cheese and vanilla whoopie pie as I write this. As if consuming over two dozen mini pies yesterday wasn't enough, I had to buy 20 of various flavors and stockpile them in my freezer. (There was a clearance sale after the festival ended.)

This year's Whoopie Pie Festival was bigger and better than the last which, according to the organizers, was bigger and better than the one before that. Seems the buzz about the whoopie pie eating contest, which serves as the closing event every year, really attracts a crowd. Ian and his hollow leg helps too.

The official results are as follows: Ian "The Invader" Hickman won with 45 pies in three minutes(he ate 60 last year, but more on the lower numbers later). James and I tied with 25 for second place (he also tied me last year with 30), followed by Tim "Obi Wing Kinobi" and his awesome shirt with 21.

As always, I'll let the pictures tell the story.


The whoopie pie eating contest wasn't the only event on the calendar. There was also whoopie pie checkers, a whoopie pie launch, a whoopie pie race and a whoopie pie yell off. No word on whether my suggestion of a whoopie pie food fight will be added to next year's roster.


Each eater was given five plates of 10 pies each. At the bottom of this post, I used this image and the same image from last year to prove that the pies were larger this year.


Ian, me, Tim and James chowing down. Tim's shirt says "Is it considered cheating if you eat your opponent?" I would say no.


Eaters were given the choice between water and milk. I chose milk. Ian brought his own concoction, which looked like water, but who knows. I do know he was eating like a slob because a river of water and whoopie pie cream was running off the table onto my feet.

Ian and his sweet belt.


In addition to this kick ass belt, Ian also won some free passes to gorge on the Hershey Farm & Restaurant's legendary home cooked buffet. After the contest, he and his brother hit the buffet before heading home.


Even before the contest started, Ian suspected the pies were a little larger than last year. I wasn't sure, but after comparing an image from last year with an image from this year (note the size of my thumb against the pies), it becomes clear that Ian was right, which explains why our 2008 totals were down from our 2007 numbers.

A full set of pictures can be seen here.

BIG WHOOP

Just a reminder that the whoopie pie contest is this Saturday at 2:30 pm in Lancaster. Check out the specifics here. There is no advanced registration. Just show and get on the list, but you should probably show up at least an hour early (you'll be able to catch the Whoopie Yell Off at 2pm). I may compete in that as well. I've been practicing.

Carey and Joel cannot make it, so it looks like it'll be me and Ian. Jill? Gooey Sean? Anyone else?

THE SKINNYBOY VS. MEGA MUNCH PEANUT BUTTER BURGER-OFF!

Last week, in response to my post about the strange yet alluring peanut butter-topped Jiffy Burger, Skinnyboy challenged me to a "Peanut Butter Burger Off." Each of us would make a peanut butter topped burger and post photos on our blogs and allow readers to vote for which burger they think looks best. So that's what we did this past weekend and I have to say, as odd as peanut butter on a burger sounds, it actually tasted incredible.

As far as judging the burgers, "best" can mean whatever you want it to, but I'm guessing it means, if you have both of these burgers sitting in front of you and you could only eat one, which would you choose? Below are the burgers. Feel free to leave a comment voting for burger #1 (the top) or burger #2 (the bottom). Sorry, no anonymous votes allowed!

"WIFE SWAP" SEEKS COMPETITIVE EATING FAMILIES

I received the following inquiry via e-mail. This is the same show Badlands was featured on a year or two ago. If anyone fits the bill, feel free to contact her! Oh, and be sure to tell her I referred you so I can get that $1,000 referral prize. Why should you tell her I referred you? Because I'll give you half of it!

My name is Amanda Gershkowitz and I am a Casting Associate Producer for ABC families hit reality show 'Wife Swap.' We are currently casting for our fifth season and we are looking for families WHERE MOM AND/OR DAD IS A COMPETITIVE EATER! We cast everywhere from Maine to California , and this would bring a fun and unique dynamic to the show.

The premise of Wife Swap is simple: for seven days, two wives from two different families with very different values exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover what it's like to live a different family's life. It's an interesting social experiment and a great way to see your family in a whole new light. It is shot as a documentary series, so NO scripts and no set. It's just one camera that is documenting your life.

Families that appear on the show will receive a financial honorarium for lost wages, time and commitment. And if you refer a family that appears on the show you would receive $1000. Here at 'Wife Swap' we look for a two-parent home with at least one child between the ages of 6 and 17 living at home full time.

If you are interested, please email me your contact information and tell me a little about your family. Or if you would like to refer a family, please email me their contact information and I will be in touch. Thank you!

Amanda Gershkowitz
Casting Associate Producer, Wife Swap
amanda.gershkowitz@rdfnewyork.com

BURGER OF THE DAY

The gem above is the Jiffy Burger from Fanny Ann's Saloon in Old Sacramento, CA. As for the topping, it's not cheese, it's peanut butter. I might have to make this thing very soon.

TRAINING DAY

After my disappointing performance this past weekend in Hamburg, I've decided to embark on a crash training regimen to give me a boost in the whoopie pie contest coming up on September 20. (By the way, I spoke with the contest organizer and she informed me that there is no advanced registration for the contest. In her words, "Just show up before the contest and everyone who signs up will get to compete.")

Anyhow, I'll train every other day before the contest (starting tonight) and in each of the three days prior to the contest to increase my stomach capacity. I'll try different techniques, all of which include large quanties of low-calorie food chased with a liter or two of water. I realize my efforts might be "too little, too late" -- sort of like getting off the couch and running for two weeks to prepare for a marathon -- but it can't hurt, and even if it provides me with a mental edge, it's worth a shot.

My goal: To whoop Carey, Joel and Jill...and not let Hickman double up on me! Between now and then, I'll also be studying this video:

UPDATE: My first training session went pretty well. I can't say I enjoyed it, but it felt productive and it's inspired me to continue my regimen until game day on September 20.