Ballpark offers $20 burger with 4,800 calories, 300 g of fat, 744 mg of cholesterol.

[Unspeaked]

Continuing my recent string of posts about gluttony (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=662771), a small town baseball team is serving up a 4,800 calorie burger this summer...

LINK (http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/03/whitecaps_fifth_third_burger_n.html)

Whitecaps' Fifth Third Burger not for faint of heart

by Michael Zuidema

COMSTOCK PARK -- The next item the West Michigan Whitecaps might want to consider selling at Fifth Third Ballpark concession stands is antacids. Or cholesterol medication.

That is because their newest menu option is a 4,800-calorie mouthful.

The team's Fifth Third Burger recently garnered attention from ESPN's "SportsCenter" and NBC's "The Today Show," in addition to Web sites and blogs across the country.

"We always try to come up with something new and innovative," Whitecaps president Scott Lane said. "We believe it's very important to the overall experience."

Here's what fans can expect from the Fifth Third Burger:

Start with an 8-inch sesame seed bun that requires 1 pound of dough and is made specially for the Whitecaps by Nantucket Baking Co. of Grand Rapids.

Spoon on nearly a cup of chili and place five one-third pound hamburger patties on top of that. (Get it, 5/3 pounds of beef for the Fifth Third Burger?)

Add five slices of American cheese and liberal doses of salsa, nacho cheese and Fritos. Top it off with lettuce, tomato and sour cream, and you have a burger that can be sliced with a pizza cutter and feed four people for $20. Jalapenos are optional.

If a single person can consume the entire 4-pound finished product in one sitting, the team plans to give him or her a special T-shirt.

"Besides being unique and large and bizarre, it tastes good," Lane said. "I'm sure there are going to be crazies that come down and try to eat the entire thing."

This is not the Whitecaps' first unique menu option. In recent years, the team has offered everything from deep-fried Twinkies and deep-fried Pepsi to entire turkey drumsticks.

Each offseason, team officials brainstorm ideas for their next culinary creation. Potential ingredients for this season included cactus, sausage gravy, Spam, fried eggs and grape jelly. Fortunately, not all on one sandwich.

Eventually, the Whitecaps settled on the Fifth Third Burger because it consisted mostly of items that easily can be found at a ballpark.

Other new food options for the season are a Chicago-style hot dog cart and frozen bananas dipped in chocolate.

In addition to more than 4,800 calories -- potentially the most caloric item ever offered at a ballpark -- the Fifth Third Burger contains nearly 300 grams of fat, 744 milligrams of cholesterol and more than 10,000 milligrams of sodium. The smell alone might be 25 calories.

Not to worry, Lane said. Fifth Third Ballpark has plenty of healthy options, including salads and wraps, although many fans enjoy indulging at sporting events.

"Why hide it?" he said. "At home, people eat healthy. When they come to a game, they might eat a hot dog."

[szark]

Deep fried Pepsi? How do you deep fry a liquid? :confused:

The burger sounds tasty, but I won't be trying one.

[Unspeaked]

Deep fried Pepsi? How do you deep fry a liquid? :confused:

http://candyaddict.com/blog/2006/11/07/review-deep-fried-coca-cola/

[mkrishnan]

Yeah, ahem, so that is where I'm moving back to this summer. Sigh/facepalm.

[John Jacob]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Uh, I mean, pics or it doesn't actually exist. :D

[szark]

http://candyaddict.com/blog/2006/11/07/review-deep-fried-coca-cola/

So basically, they're making some kind of deep-fried batter, and giving it Pepsi/Cola flavoring. Got it.

[rdowns]

I can't believe the burger doesn't come with fries.

[Unspeaked]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Uh, I mean, pics or it doesn't actually exist. :D

http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/AP_Photo/2009/03/25/1237999851_2661/539w.jpg

[Abstract]

To be honest, that looks kind of awesome for a burger, as long as the meat is decent (for burger meat). Share it with 3 friends if you need to. :)

[IJ Reilly]

Continuing my recent string of posts about gluttony (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=662771),

So, what's up with that, anyway?

[dukebound85]

To be honest, that looks kind of awesome for a burger, as long as the meat is decent (for burger meat). Share it with 3 friends if you need to. :)

it does look pretty good

nutrition be damned

[MattG]

Seeing this makes me feel not quite as bad about myself for having a regular burger every so often. :rolleyes:

[CorvusCamenarum]

http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/AP_Photo/2009/03/25/1237999851_2661/539w.jpg

That is positively disgusting.

[spork183]

That is positively disgusting.

aw, come on, that's only 10x the daily allowance of fat for someone who wants to lose weight.

[Iscariot]

Inspired by this and the other gluttony threads around here, I decided to go out and make myself a giant burger at home. Who says vegetarians can't have fun with their food?

Toasted whole wheat bun
"Chicken" burger, breaded and grilled
2 slices of "bacon"
"cheese"
Tipsy BBQ sauce
Another breaded and grilled burger
2 more slices of "bacon"
another layer of cheese
Smokey BBQ sauce
Spicy salsa

It ended up being about 900 calories, 70 grams of protein, 24 grams of fat (mostly monounsaturated (the kind that lowers bad cholesterol and raises good cholestorol) and omega 3 & 6) 0 grams of cholesterol, with 105% RDA of iron, 84% RDA of calcium, and 9g of fibre. Clearly I must be doing something wrong!

…and yes, I had a hard time finishing it.

[mkrishnan]

That sounds tasty, but call me when you use a pound of bread dough for the bun. ;)

[Mr. lax]

[ImageSnip]

Looks mighty tasty to me

[Koodauw]

I mean it is meant to be consumed by more than one person correct? If I was at a game with a few buddies, I'd give it a shot.

[Thomas Veil]

This thing sounds absolutely disgusting even from the description...and you can take that from a burger fan!

This is the kind of sandwich which, were real life like the movies, would cause the cows of the world to rise en masse and destroy us in the manner of Hitchcock's "The Birds".

[Counterfit]

Ditch the Fritos, and I'd be willing to split it with someone.
Nantucket Baking Co. of Grand Rapids.

Um, :confused:
Nantucket = Massachusetts.

[Unspeaked]

So, what's up with that, anyway?

I'm fascinated by the recent American pursuit of constantly trying to out-do the last unhealthy, artery clogging creation.

It seems like lines have been drawn where a good portion of restaurants/consumers are going for the organic, whole grain thing and the other extreme are trying to be as unhealthy as possible. Even in the world of fast food, you have the McDonalds and Subways which really try to push their lighter options like salads and wraps and then the Burger Kings and Carl's Jrs which are all about seeing how many beef patties can be placed between a bun without it toppling over.

I'm just wondering where all this will lead to...


I mean it is meant to be consumed by more than one person correct? If I was at a game with a few buddies, I'd give it a shot.

I don't know, I reckon there's plenty of people who will order their own private Fifth Third Burger, don't you?

[Abstract]

Clearly I must be doing something wrong!

…and yes, I had a hard time finishing it.


Is that because you were using vegetarian "chicken burger" and "bacon" and "cheese", all in quotations? I don't think I'd eat that either. :p


Right now I live near one of the best burger restaurants in Toronto (or just outside of the GTA, actually, although it's close enough), so I've been a bit spoiled with my burgers. I don't claim to eat there often, but when I crave a burger, I never have to succumb to McD.


This burger looks OK, except perhaps the fritos. I don't even know what those are. I can't recall.

[Unspeaked]

This burger looks OK, except perhaps the fritos. I don't even know what those are. I can't recall.

http://www.fritos.com/

[Chip NoVaMac]

To be honest, that looks kind of awesome for a burger, as long as the meat is decent (for burger meat). Share it with 3 friends if you need to. :)

Saw this burger on a news feed today. I am a big guy, one though that has gone from 350+ to about 230 here as right now in the last few years. So looking at the pic I could not even think of how I could share that with even 5 or 6 friends at a game. :eek:

[EricNau]

I don't see what the big deal is; of course a hamburger of that magnitude is going to contain many calories and grams of fat.

...When you can pack 4,800 calories, 300 g of fat, and 744 mg of cholesterol in a burger the size of a McDonald's single, I'll be impressed. Not that I'd eat it, or any hamburger for that matter.

[theDUB]

1/4 of it about nutritionally equivalent to a big mickyd's or burger king burger.

[CalBoy]

I don't see what the big deal is

The calories themselves aren't really surprising given the size of the burger, but what does seem like a big deal to me is the fact that there's a reward for finishing the whole thing.

I can't believe that someone would want to encourage someone else to consume 4,800 calories in one sitting (although with the way we glorify food sometimes, maybe I'm wrong to have such disbelief).

[theDUB]

The calories themselves aren't really surprising given the size of the burger, but what does seem like a big deal to me is the fact that there's a reward for finishing the whole thing.

I can't believe that someone would want to encourage someone else to consume 4,800 calories in one sitting (although with the way we glorify food sometimes, maybe I'm wrong to have such disbelief).

Welcome to America. Disgusting, isn't it?

[EricNau]

The calories themselves aren't really surprising given the size of the burger, but what does seem like a big deal to me is the fact that there's a reward for finishing the whole thing.

I can't believe that someone would want to encourage someone else to consume 4,800 calories in one sitting (although with the way we glorify food sometimes, maybe I'm wrong to have such disbelief).
'Tis nothing more than a marketing gimmick, and I don't see much harm. So long as it's an unusual occurrence, it shouldn't pose much of an issue.

However, if there is an immediate risk associated with such a stunt (akin to the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16614865/)) of which I am unaware, then it should be discontinued immediately but if not, not.

[CalBoy]

'Tis nothing more than a marketing gimmick, and I don't see much harm. So long as it's an unusual occurrence, it shouldn't pose much of an issue.

However, if there is an immediate risk associated with such a stunt (akin to the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16614865/)) of which I am unaware, then it should be discontinued immediately but if not, not.

I suppose it all depends on how big the risk is to the consumer of the burger.

I mean 4,800 calories would add over 1 solid pound of fat to one's body and pump so much cholesterol and fat into the blood stream, that I can't even fathom how someone can survive such a burger without at least one artery partially clogged.

I guess it doesn't put anyone in immediate danger, but it doesn't sit well with me either.

[AhmedFaisal]

Back in the days when I was still in college, we would have days where we would go to find places that carried stuff like that and see who can eat the most of it the fastest. Mind, we didn't eat afterwards for like two days but those were the days. Well, you can bet college kids will take it as a challenge and finish the thing! Nothing beats group gluttony!
Cheers!

Ahmed

[mcpryon2]

Nice post. As somebody who takes such things as personal challenges, I am rather surprised they're offering a prize for finishing it. You'd think 2lbs of fries would be part of the deal or something.

I have to say I'm pretty confident I could do it, there has to be a catch. It would be fun to try...it's all just a matter of hating yourself enough to finish.

[arkitect]

You'd think 2lbs of fries would be part of the deal or something.


1kg of potatoes deep-fried in fat/oil?

Just the thought makes my stomach turn.
:o

[gkarris]

I don't get the argument...

Add five slices of American cheese and liberal doses of salsa, nacho cheese and Fritos. Top it off with lettuce, tomato and sour cream, and you have a burger that can be sliced with a pizza cutter and feed four people for $20. Jalapenos are optional.

It's considered 4 servings, so 1,200 per serving. You can probably really, properly portioned, serve 6-8.

Yes, I do know - I work in Food Service...

[Counterfit]

The calories themselves aren't really surprising given the size of the burger, but what does seem like a big deal to me is the fact that there's a reward for finishing the whole thing.

I can't believe that someone would want to encourage someone else to consume 4,800 calories in one sitting (although with the way we glorify food sometimes, maybe I'm wrong to have such disbelief).

Man vs. Food (http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Man_v_Food).
Granted, not all of the challenges involve ridiculous amounts of food, some are bordering on lethal concentrations of capsaicin. :p

[That-Is-Bull]

That is positively disgusting.

But tasty!

I'm disappointed that it isn't tied together with bacon and deep-fried, though.

[Thomas Veil]

But tasty!

I'm disappointed that it isn't tied together with bacon and deep-fried, though.Don't give them any ideas!!! :eek:

[iMpathetic]

Man, those people down in America really suck for making that burger.

If there were two people, it would be SO ON.

Sorry, cows. You're livestock for a reason.

[mkrishnan]

The 5/3 burger was on NPR this morning... it was pretty great. :D

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103146640

[Keebler]

this is disgusting!

I transfer videos for folks and whenever I transfer old film reels, it NEVER ceases to amaze me at how lazy and FAT (on average) our society has become. Don't get me wrong, I need to lose a few pounds and I do work out regularly so I'm not coming in on a high horse.

When I look at these films - people are RIPPED. not just skinny, but ripped. it's amazing. it's rare you see someone overweight and if you do, it's usually someone much older. Even then, i've seen some ripped Grandpas.

I know we've evolved from the monkey man, but I don't like the pudginess to where we seem to be headed. UG-ly!

and this disgusting creation just reinforces that theory.

[iPhoneNYC]

Can I get one as a Slider?

[dmmcintyre3]

even if you split it in 4 pieces 1,200 calories in one meal is a lot. I probably eat 1,500-1750 calories in one day so that is ridiculous. I only weigh 75 lbs.

[Abstract]

As long as you're a thin, healthy 4'6" pre-teen girl, you should be fine.

[iMpathetic]

even if you split it in 4 pieces 1,200 calories in one meal is a lot. I probably eat 1,500-1750 calories in one day so that is ridiculous. I only weigh 75 lbs.

WHAAAT?

How tall are you?

[twoodcc]

i could eat the whole thing......over the course of the day.

just start early in the morning with a few bites.

eat to about the half way point at lunch.

go run after work, maybe some weights also.

then eat almost the rest for dinner.

and finish it up around 10:00 pm

with drinks included, i'd be close to 6,000 calories for the day! a new personal record!

[Mr. lax]

even if you split it in 4 pieces 1,200 calories in one meal is a lot. I probably eat 1,500-1750 calories in one day so that is ridiculous. I only weigh 75 lbs.

75 pounds?
We're going to need to know how tall you are...

[shawnathan]

Man, those people down in America really suck for making that burger.

If there were two people, it would be SO ON.

Sorry, cows. You're livestock for a reason.

This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[SydneyDev]

I love burgers, normally have them 3 times a week. I couldn't eat that whole thing though, probably somewhere between a third and a half.

[Antares]

Yum! That does sound and look really tastey. But leave off the sour cream. And I would think American cheese or Nacho cheese on it....but not both.

[chrmjenkins]

Actually, this isn't as big a deal as everyone makes it out to be. If you were to consume that whole, thing, your body would process only a fraction of the fat, calories, cholesterol etc. It's too much to take in one sitting. A majority of it would pass unprocessed. Where the danger lies is if you make a habit of consuming things like this.