The Big Texan: Tiny 120-Pound Woman Eats 13.5 Pounds Of Steaks (Plus Sides)… Wins $5,000

(Pictured: Competitive eater Molly Schuyler)

Eating steak and potatoes is an American past-time. On a normal outing a person might order an 8 to 12 ounce filet or New York Strip and totally satisfied. In Texas, however, they say everything’s a bit bigger. And their steaks are no exception.

This weekend Molly Schuyler took on the “Big Texan” at Amarillo’s Big Texan Steak Ranch – and she not only ate the entire meal, but took out three of them in the process, as well as sides that included a baked potato, shrimp cocktail, salad and a roll.

The legendary Amarillo, TX restaurant, located on Route 66, was opened in 1960, and according to the owner, they’ve never seen or heard of anything like Schuyler.

The 120-pound mother of three reportedly scarfed down three 72 ounce Big Texan steaks and about 3 pounds of sides. That’s 13.5 pounds of steak plus the sides for a combined total of around 16.5 pounds of food.

Hundreds gathered outside the restaurant to watch her down three steaks, three baked potatoes, three shrimp cocktails, three salads and three rolls in a record-breaking time.

“We’ve seen a lot of things come through these doors but Molly … she takes the cake … she takes lots and lots of cake,” said a joking Bobby Lee, Big Texan co-owner.

The crowd cheered as Schuyler, a Nebraska native who lives in Sacramento, Calif., finished her first steak dinner in 4 minutes, 18 seconds, beating the restaurant’s record of 4:58 she set May 26, 2014.

Those who wish to take the challenge have 60 minutes to complete the dinner and receive the meal free. Otherwise, the meal costs challengers $72.

Amarillo Globe News

Should you ever decide to take on the challenge, this is what you’re steak will look like:

Here’s the legend behind how the Big Texan competition started way back in 1962:

One Friday, he put several tables together in the center of the dinning room & sat all the cowboys together & told them he wanted to see who could eat the most one pound steaks in an hour. The cost was $5 per eater & whoever ate the most got to keep the entire entry-fee.

The rules were simple; you could not get up during the contest or have anyone help you eat, you did not have to eat the fat & if you got sick, you were out.

The cowboys put in their money,took a seat & the contest was on, steaks were flying.

One of the eaters took the lead by swallowing two steaks in ten minutes.

Next,he politely requested a salad & a shrimp cocktail be served with his third steak. He consumed the extras, then this soft spoken giant called for his fourth steak & ask for a baked potato & a bread roll. He wasted little time on devouring those items & called for his fifth steak.

As the hour contest came to an end, this gastronomic superman had eaten:

4 & 1/2 pounds of steak, (which is 72 oz’s) baked potato,shrimp cocktail,salad & a bread roll.

In his amazement & delight of the crowd, Owner Bob (RJ) Lee stood up on a chair in the middle of the dinning room to proclaim that: “from this day forward, anyone who could eat the entire 72 oz dinner-in one hour– gets it for FREE.

On that date in 1962 the legendary 72oz Steak Challenge was born & to this date the contests stands strong.

We thought the Ol’ 96er was a big meal, but for Schuyler that’s just an appetizer: