Epic Seattle food challenge beaten after nearly five decades Wedgwood Broiler feat was one of six done by Randy Santel

Bodybuilder and competitive eater Randy Santel just before he finished the Wedgwood Broiler 72-ounce steak dinner challenge. Employees there say he was the first person to complete the challenge since it was first offered in 1965. (Courtesy Mike Hamman) less Bodybuilder and competitive eater Randy Santel just before he finished the Wedgwood Broiler 72-ounce steak dinner challenge. Employees there say he was the first person to complete the challenge since it was ... more Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Epic Seattle food challenge beaten after nearly five decades 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

The rule sheet for the legendary 72-ounce steak dinner challenge has been framed at the Wedgwood Broiler for nearly five decades. Dozens have tried to power through, though legend goes that in all those years even the biggest big guy couldn't stomach it.

In addition to the steak there's also a glass of tomato juice, cup of soup, dinner salad, steak fries or baked potato, slice of bread, a cup of coffee tea or milk, and a dish of ice cream or sherbet – all to be eaten in an hour.

Almost inevitability, the restaurant keeps the $75 cash deposit required at the start. Friday night, bodybuilder and competitive eater Randy Santel got his money back.

"We have no documentation of anybody ever finishing this," kitchen manager Mike Hamman said Monday. "As far as we know this guy is the first person."

Even more amazing: the Wedgwood Broiler 72-ounce steak challenge was one of five epic eating challenges Santel won in his three-day trip to Western Washington. He also polished off a one pound doughnut, though that isn't counted on his list of 100 completed food feats.

Not bad for a guy with six-pack abs.

"I was hoping to do the steak a lot faster," said Santel, who beat the Wedgwood Broiler challenge in 41 minutes 46 seconds, "but it was cooked almost between medium-well and well, which made it a lot harder to chew."

After landing at Sea-Tac on Thursday, Santel went to The Loose Wheel Sports Bar and Grill where he downed fries and a 6-pound bacon burger with grilled cheese sandwiches for a bun. After that was the 1-pound doughnut in Auburn, then Santel went to Wing Central Bar and Grill in the University District where he ate a 2-foot long chili-cheese hot dog with jalepenos, onions and a side of fries.

Hours before the Wedgwood Broiler steak challenge on Friday, Santel competed the 3-liter Ramen Bowl Challenge at Kobe Sushi Bar and Restaurant in Bellevue. The $100 gift certificate he won was donated to the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club – something Santel usually does when he wins gift certificate to an out of town eatery.

The following day he ate a 12-patty, 3-pound cheeseburger to win a challenge at Seattle's Burger Madness. Next he devoured a six-pound burrito at Masa of Tacoma in seven minutes 12 seconds.

The Wedgwood Broiler steak challenge was the only one that took Santel more than 15 minutes.

"When people hear that I've done 100 food challenges they automatically assume, 'Oh wow, this guy's got to be huge,' but then they see me and it totally changes their outlook," said Santel, who is 6-foot-5 and about 230 pounds. "It shows people that with proper nutrition and working hard at it (they can) lose weight and be in shape."

The weekend success in Western Washington gave Santel 100 wins in 11 states – far more than the 37 wins by "Man v. Food" host Adam Richman. But he hasn't entered the Nathan's Fourth of July hot dog eating contest because entering that requires competitive eaters to participate only in Major League Eating-sanctioned events.

Santel puts videos of each challenge on his YouTube page and some go on his website – next to the photos of his Charles Atlas physique.



A 25-year-old St. Louis native, Santel was a high school athlete and an offensive lineman at Missouri State University. He was a big kid, weighing well over 200 pounds in fifth grade and 346 pounds as a high school senior.

Helped by a Men's Health challenge, Santel started the struggle to lose weight in Jan. 2010 and dropped 25 pounds in two months. Today he works out five or six times a week, sometimes twice daily, to maintain his metabolism and muscular build. Santel gets his cholesterol checked about four times a year and said he plans to put future results online with his nutrition and diet tips.

"When I'm not doing challenges and stuff I eat a lot of vegetables and a lot of lean meats," he said Monday afternoon on his way to a Kansas gym. "I feel a little bit sluggish today, but hopefully the sauna will help, and then I'll probably do some running and working out with weights tomorrow.

"Hopefully I'll be back down to my regular weight by Thursday or Friday. I'm sure I'll be up a pound or two, considering I just had 34 pounds of nothing healthy."

Santel said he heard of another 72-ounce steak competition in Tacoma, but went to the Wedgwood Broiler because that challenge had never been completed.

The event wasn't publicized in advance, though it was witnessed by a Seattle Weekly writer who first reported the 47-year-old Wedgwood Broiler challenge being beaten.

What amazed Hamman, the restaurant manager, was that Santel not only finished the required food, but washed down the required tomato juice with an extra glass of soda and also added four tall glasses of lemonade.

Everyone else Hamann has seen attempt it "can't even get to the sides most the time."

A small group, including several astonished waitresses, gathered to watch Santel finish the challenge just under 42 minutes. After the applause, an amazed customer offered to buy him a beer – and Santel accepted.

"I couldn't believe it," Hamman said. "I was in awe just after he finished the steak."

Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or at caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney.