PIZZICA. Irresistible “viewer magnet.”
In 2010, veteran chef Tom Pizzica joined season six of the TV search, “Food Network Star,” but failed to cop the top slot.
That “not quite good enough” outcome would have sucked the air and resolve out of most less-than-winning wannabes, but Tom proved to be made of sterner stuff, and kept dreaming, hoping—and cooking!
It turned out that he had good reason not to quit and get out of the kitchen. Some Food Network executives took note of his burly physical frame and even bigger personality—
and decided to “cook up” a new show specifically designed to suit his “Big Chef” projection.
Those food-savvy execs knew what they were doing, because the big, brash TV showcase they whipped up for Pizzica, “Outrageous Food,” turned out to be an irresistible “viewer magnet.”
‘Big-sizing’ trend
It rides on the now trendy preference for “big sizing” when it comes to fast food—but doesn’t stop within “logical” limits. Instead, it takes the preference for sheer quantity and volume to its literally “outrageous” conclusion—and then some!
Like, would you believe a giant burger? A 1,200-foot cheese steak? A seven-pound steak? —Gluttons, rejoice!
As for food lovers with smaller appetites, stomachs and gustatory inclinations, “Outrageous Food” still commands their slack-jawed viewership, because it lives up to its title—and how!
The telecast we watched on the Food Network highlighted the “construction” of a humongous hamburger that was 100 times bigger than the usual burger.
Piled high
Even the giant bun for it had to be specially baked, then viewers continued to gawk as the “meat component” was prepared and fried. After it was good and ready came the onions, tomatoes and greens, all piled high and topped with a minimountain of cheese, plus the usual seasoning and stuff, all in appropriately and impressively gargantuan proportions!
So, who would be huge and hungry enough to do full justice to the gigantic fast-food feast? The honor and challenge were reserved for 10 college students, who proceeded to “attack” the world’s biggest burger—not by all of them biting into a bit of it, but by assigning each of its different components to smaller teams! —One group was in charge of the meat, another was assigned to the veggies, etc.
That “assembly-line” approach may sound logical and expedient, but it ended up with each team getting sick and sated of ingesting the same taste until they were fit to burst—so, they failed to devour the “grossburger.” So much for amateur gluttons.