Man v. Food Season 2 Episode 18: Hartford
Adam arrives in Hartford, Connecticut to battle the Randy’s Wooster St. Pizza Shop’s “10 lb. Stuffed Pizza Challenge”. The challenge requires two competitors to down this humongous stuffed pizza, Only two competing teams have won, 99% of competitors lose to the stuffed pizza challenge.
First Adam visits Woody’s restaurant in downtown Hartford, known for their gigantic and delicious specialty hot dogs. Of the nine hot dog specials Adam decides to try their famous “Deputy Dog”. The Deputy Dog is a 1-foot long hot dog topped with pulled pork, melted sharp cheddar cheese, topped with barbecue sauce on hot dog bun. Adam declares the Deputy Dog one of his favorite all time hot dogs he has ever tasted.
Adam visits Doogies, another hot dog institution in Connecticut. The “Doggie Dog” is a gigantic meal, featuring a 2-foot hog dog covered in sauteed onions and peppers, homemade chili, cheddar cheese and bacon sauce, served on three German-style buns. Adam loves the addition of sauteed peppers on the hot dog.
The next place on Adam’s Hartford food tour is the world famous Ted’s Restaurant. Adam is there to try their famous steamed hamburgers with melted cheese. Steamed hamburgers are a local tradition in Connecticut. The burger meat is placed in square shaped trays then steamed in a metal steam box to cook the burgers. The cheese to top the steamed burger is also melted in these same square trays. The steamed cheesy burger comes with home fries covered in melted cheesy goodness. After trying the steamed burger Adam says its like “pulling up a blanket of ooey-gooey cheese” over yourself. Adam says “yum” while eating the burger, telling the viewers they must come to Connecticut to try this cheesy steamed burger.
Adam arrives at his destination for the Randy’s Wooster St. Pizza Shop’s 10 lb. Stuffed Pizza Challenge. The 22-inch stuffed pizza is made of 3 pounds of dough, ground meatballs, pepperoni, crumbled bacon, five fresh vegetable toppings, and 3 pounds of ricotta, pecorino romano and mozzarella cheese.
Adam’s partner in the challenge is a previous Stuffed Pizza Challenge winner Greg Malumi, who goes by “The Great Moomise”, part of one of two teams who beat the challenge. The challenge has defeated 442 teams of competitors to date. Adam and Moomise have one hour to finish off the gigantic stuffed pizza. If they win they get to inscribe their names on the challenge booth, winning free t-shirts and hats. If they lose their names are included on the “Wall of Shame”.
Adam yells “let’s get this pizza party started”. The crowd chants “Man vs Food” as they begin their food battle. Adam and Moomsie must each eat 4 whopping slices of stuffed pizza. Adam’s strategy is to eat the filling of the pizza first while Moomsie goes the entire slice route. Moomsie downs 2 full slices while Adam eats the stuffing of 2 slices, leaving crust to the side. Adam declares Moomise “a machine” when it comes to eating the stuffed pizza. At 35 minutes into the challenge Moomise is almost done with his slices while Adam is ready to down the pizza crust he set aside. Adam struggles with consuming the dough. Moomsie finishes his pizza slices with 15 minutes to go. As they head to the finish line Adam gives up eating the rest of the dough. Moomsie steps in and starts eating part of Adam’s dough, surprising Adam and the crowd, who cheer them on. Adam finds a second wind and with Moomsie’s help, completes the challenge with one second to spare. Adam becomes a first time champion while Moomsie celebrates his second win in the challenge. Adam declares in the stuffed pizza challenge of men vs food, today men won.
