Can You Eat 16 (Mini) Burgers in 16 Minutes? The 3sums Challenge

Cat Nelson | Jun 5, 2013 3:00 pm | 8 comments | 2266 reads

So you think you can eat? Or do you simply like competition on principle?

This Saturday, June 8 at 8pm, 3sums is hosting Beijing's First Annual Miniburger Eat-a-thon. Despite calling it an "eat-a-thon," this is far more like a 100-meter dash. The premise? Eat 16 mini-burgers in 16 minutes or less.

Beyond bragging rights and the satisfaction of consuming an entire menu in just over a quarter of an hour, what do you get if you eat it all? Much like the ongoing challenge at Two Guys and a Pie, if you win the competition, 3sums will pick up your tab. Plus, you'll get a bottle of wine and your mugshot on the wall. Even if you don't win, but you bring a cheer squad, 3sums promises a round of beers for everyone who comes out to support a competitor.

Saturday exclusive: You'll be competing alongside John "Zonah" Hong, The Nathan's Beijing hot dog/Kro's Nest Pizza/2 Guys and a Pie reigning competitive eating champ.

Is your interest piqued? To enter, email jerry@3su.ms by Thursday June 6 (tomorrow) with an one-line eating CV. Five contestants will be chosen on Friday and informed by email. Entry fee is RMB 320 (the usual price of RMB 20/burger), but this is returned should you complete the challenge.

The experience?

I suppose I should say that I've recently attempted the challenge. I'm not exactly sure where the idea originated, but I do know that I drunkenly agreed to it one fateful Saturday (coincidentally the afternoon of our Tenth Annual Reader Bar and Club Awards – where all good decisions are made).

I'm not one to back down on an agreement and most certainly not a challenge to my eating chops, so on Monday, March 27, I went head to head with owner Jerry Guo (a big dude) to give the challenge a test run.

The outcome? Well, it turns out we're wimps. Jerry managed to pound down 13 mini burgers in the allotted time. I finished somewhere around nine to 10. I'll argue that this isn't so bad, considering its proportion to our body sizes. And while neither of us succeeded, we're agreed: it certainly is possible.

In Photos: 16 burgers, 16 minutes

Photos: Cat Nelson, Jessica Rapp

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BumbleBeeTou's picture BumbleBeeTou Submitted by Guest on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 22:58

panderson wrote:
@ The Beijing Deva

Hello, this is Zach, the executive chef from 3sums. While Home Plate does have a tasty burger for 35rmb, we offer something a bit different.

First, the reason we make only mini burgers is so that our guests can experience three very different tastes, so you can either stick to what you know you will love or push your limits and try something different (and if you don't like it, it's only a few bites).

Second, we make everything ourselves, with your burgers cooked to order. We grind our own beef, source high-quality fresh and local ingredients (our veggies are delivered daily), and use imported ingredients when appropriate.

I am very much committed to giving Beijing a completely new burger experience. As good as Home Plate is, give us a chance to show you our concept and we will give you another reason to come to this street.

Do you have veggie burgers?

panderson's picture panderson Submitted by Guest on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 17:08

@ The Beijing Deva

Hello, this is Zach, the executive chef from 3sums. While Home Plate does have a tasty burger for 35rmb, we offer something a bit different.

First, the reason we make only mini burgers is so that our guests can experience three very different tastes, so you can either stick to what you know you will love or push your limits and try something different (and if you don't like it, it's only a few bites).

Second, we make everything ourselves, with your burgers cooked to order. We grind our own beef, source high-quality fresh and local ingredients (our veggies are delivered daily), and use imported ingredients when appropriate.

I am very much committed to giving Beijing a completely new burger experience. As good as Home Plate is, give us a chance to show you our concept and we will give you another reason to come to this street.

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