When is the melty gooey grilled cheese not comfort food?
When it’s a mountain of cholesterol and carbohydrates and calories.
I happened to catch Adam Richman of television’s “Man v. Food” last night. His mission: the Melt Challenge at the Melt Bar and Grilled in Cleveland, Ohio.
This baby features 13 different cheeses tipping the scale at over 3 pounds on three slices of grilled bread.
the Mother of Grilled Cheeses
Oh, and a side of fries and coleslaw. As if that matters.
More than 5 pounds of food in all. For the challenge, there’s no time limit and no trips to the restroom permitted.
With a strategy of cheese first, then bread, Adam managed to get the goliath down the gullet in 1-1/2 hours, noting that melted warm gooey cheese is dreamy until it cools into hardened havarti in the tummy.
To the infrequent victor — around 55 have tried, nine have succeeded — goes a T-shirt or pint glass, a gift card and a star on Melt’s online Hall of Fame.
I adore grilled cheeses but I’m stickin’ to the humble peasant two pieces of buttered grilled bread and a few slices of cheese. Call me a kid at heart. Or a wimp.
not me pictured
Barefoot Blogger 
May 02, 2011 @ 17:17:41
I’d call your approach sensible.
Good grief to all that – really.
May 02, 2011 @ 18:36:12
@Klopp – Believe it or not, that grilled cheese was among the more “reasonable” and “manageable” foods consumed and conquered by this foodie and program host. To many he has succumbed, including a 7-pound burrito, the carnivore pizza and a 12-egg omelet with all the fixins.
May 02, 2011 @ 18:37:13
Just makes me wonder if obesity is a problem over there?
May 02, 2011 @ 18:40:28
@Klopp – It’s a very weighty problem, pun intended, not only amongst adults now but children. The Man v. Food fella is surprisingly and relatively “thin” for the challenges he takes on on his show.
May 02, 2011 @ 18:47:11
That question was tounge-in-cheek, as we say. I have heard a lot about the obesity issues you’re facing (and us too), but haven’t been to the States so haven’t experienced it for myself. It astounds me that this kind of thing passes for entertainment though. Perhaps it’s the gross factor?
May 02, 2011 @ 18:57:36
@Klopp – Strange and surprising though it be, the gross factor really isn’t part of this show. He really doesn’t make a spectacle of himself pigging out but rather approaches the beastly-sized dishes as “competitive art.” For a truly gross show, there’s “Hoarding.” Truly truly truly disturbing and personally I find no pleasure in such psychological sickness turned into entertainment but it’s all part of the “reality craze” that has captured the TV audiences. What can I say but we are a stupid and doomed culture.
May 02, 2011 @ 19:11:37
Oh dear.
May 02, 2011 @ 19:35:18
I remember the 7 pound burrito-my stomach starts cramping just *thinking* about it!
Denny’s has(or had-not sure if it’s still on the menu)a grilled cheese sandwich with-wait for it-mozzarella cheese sticks in the middle. With french fries. I think I speak for everyone when I say “Gag!”
May 02, 2011 @ 21:54:18
@katie – So sorry I missed that gastronomical gasp! And btw, the pictures online don’t make the Fried Cheese Melt any more appetizing than it sounded! 😀 All 895 calories of it … not counting the fries!
May 03, 2011 @ 16:37:54
I love cheese, but good grief, that is too much. Ugh!