Burger challenge issued to competitive eater and model Nela Zisser
Kiwi model and competitive eater Nela Zisser will take on ten burger lovers in an attempt to devour a burger the size of a rugby ball as fast as possible.
The "Mount Challenge Burger", which stands about 35cm high and is roughly 1kg of food, will be the subject of an eating competition at Pronto restaurant next weekend.
Top times are displayed on the challenge burger board and the top 10 fastest eaters have been invited to better their time next Saturday.
Miss Zisser, a model and former Miss Earth New Zealand, who has eaten a 2.3kg burrito in less than five minutes and 100 pieces of sushi in 8 minutes 50 seconds, has accepted Pronto's invitation to take part in the burger-eating competition.
Nela Zisser is taking on a new extreme food challenge. Photo / John Borren
The mammoth burger is made up of; three beef patties, each weighing 175 grams, two eggs, two hash browns, three bread buns, bacon, cheese and onion rings served with a side of fries.
The current record for the fastest time to demolish the meal was 6 minutes and 49 seconds.
The burger came to life only two months ago and has since had more than 150 contenders attempt to consume it as fast as humanly possible.
Fiona McKellar White was the brains behind the burger idea that was thought up "initially as a joke".
"We were at home one night and I just had this idea and I rang up our chef and said, 'Put three beef patties on with this and that and eat it and time it', and he thought, 'Are you serious?'" Ms McKellar White said.
Her partner, Cezar Brando, was the first to have a crack at the burger, eating it in 11 minutes.
Since posting a photo of the burger and Mr Brando's efforts on social media, attention has grown and the competition idea came naturally.
"He sent me the photo and we put it on Facebook and it went viral," Ms McKellar White said.
Ms McKellar White said each person has a different style to eating the burger.
"Everyone has a completely different style, the people who you wouldn't suspect are on the top of our board are the people who just eat casually.
"It's when people really fight themselves into it they find it hard I think."
Pronto has been humming despite the colder months with punters, families and couples keen to stretch their stomachs.
"Being in the Mount we're so busy in the summer and everything slows down a bit for winter and we just wanted to come up with something a little bit different that no one was doing."
The Challenge Burger now has a permanent spot on the menu at $25 with a 50 per cent discount on the next meal "if you can finish it all."
The competition will be held on Saturday July 25 at 4pm at Pronto Restaurant, Mount Maunganui.
The Mount Challenge Burger
• Three buns • Three beef patties, each weighing 175 grams • Two eggs • Two hash browns • Bacon strips • Cheese • Onion rings • Aoli and barbecue sauce • Fries on the side
