I ONCE out-ate a man known as 'the Wildebeest' and didn't even know there was a competition.

It was at a party with a buffet and I was simply getting stuck in to the mushroom vol-au-vents, when my happy, drunken mates came over to tell me they'd won beer bets on me using their inside knowledge of my incredible eating capacity (otherwise known as greed).

So when the word went round the office there was a £500 reward on offer to anyone who could eat the 'No Clucking Chance' Man v Food challenge at the new Huckleberry's restaurant in Darlington it seemed like a no-brainer.

"Trust me," your reporter loudly boasted to the entire office "there is no amount of food I can't eat.. no amount."

Darlington and Stockton Times: DINER: Tom Moore tries and fails at the Burger pockalypse challenge at Huckleberrys in Darlington. Picture: TOM BANKS
DINER: The so-called 'burger pockalypse' challenge at Huckleberrys in Darlington. Picture: TOM BANKS

That confidence was shared by anyone who has had the misfortune to actually see me eat.

But my gut-busting mojo disappeared the instant that the groaning, packed giant plate of food with its 10,000 calories (enough for five days for a man) was presented to me. Staring at that, with its eight sweet waffles, eight chicken breasts, tons of bacon, four corn on the cobs, giant onion rings and mountains of chips loaded with cheese, it felt like being a reasonably competent swimmer at the seaside who was suddenly ordered to swim the Atlantic.

The meal costs £40 and to win the £500 must be eaten in 45 minutes. The dish is well-named.

"We had the UK's champion competitive eater have a go," said owner Sarah Rowlands gently, while viewing me with some pity. "He couldn't do it." Our nation's champion scoffer, bearded Leeds man Adam Moran, aka 'Beard Meats Food' once ate 17 Big Macs in under an hour but couldn't quite demolish this chicken feast. No-one ever has.

Darlington and Stockton Times: DINER: Chris Webber takes the No Clucking Chance challenge at Huckleberry's in Darlington. Picture: TOM BANKS
DINER: Chris Webber takes the No Clucking Chance challenge at Huckleberry's in Darlington. Picture: TOM BANKS

Eating challenges are controversial and co-owner, Sarah's husband, John, explained they are well used to online criticism. And, sure enough, when our sister paper, The Northern Echo reported on the opening of Huckleberry's, there was criticism both online. Two of the region's GPs wrote in to express their fears about increasing obesity.

"We don't force anyone," countered Mr Rowlands, "and we don't recommend it as a regular part of your diet. It's supposed to be a bit of fun. The vast majority of our meal sales are just regular."

But what about the fact that plenty of people around the world are without food. The Rowlands explain that they raise thousands of charity, a favourite being Comic Relief. Mr Rowlands himself has undergone eating challenges to raise the cash. "We can't pack up a beef burger and sent it," he explains, "but we can raise cash and we do that."

The vast majority of people who take on the challenge fail. But that doesn't mean the food goes to waste. Most get a doggy bag.

After our chat the food emerges. After all that boasting and our photographer there, there was no choice but it give it a go. And, after all, I hadn't eaten all day so there was plenty of room.

"That's a mistake," said Mr Rowlands. "About two thirds of our challenge eaters do that and they're beaten before they've begun. You should eat a little often, keep your stomach stretched."

So, with little, indeed 'no clucking,' chance of victory, it was time to tuck in. The chicken was tender and succulent, the bacon crispy, the corn on the cob tasty in delicious garlic butter. Good progress was made. John and Sarah expressed surprise. Then came the 'food wall,' the moment after about 20 minutes of pigging out when a sense of feeling overwhelmingly full takes over. And those sugary, syrup-drenched waffles made me feel sick. It was time to stop with ten minutes to go.

Still, about four chicken breasts that began to seem the size of boulders, all the bacon and all the corn on the cobs had been eaten. It barely seemed to dent the plate.

Chatting to Mr and Mrs Rowlands they explain that at their first restaurant in York they have had about 30,000 challenge eating failures (they also offer burger and chilli challenges and much else) and just 40 successes. All their restaurants are packed and waiting times can be long so it's advisable to ring ahead and book.

Full to the point of barely being able to walk and lying in a darkened room at home it was good to know I wasn't alone in being a Man v Food failure. And I still beat the Wildebeest.

FOOD FACTS

53-55 Parkgate, Darlington, DL1 1RR
Tel: 01325 787440
Email: darlington@huckleberrysdiner.co.uk
Website: huckleberrysdiner.co.uk/darlington
Food served: 9am to 9pm every day
Disabled access
Ratings (out of ten): Food Quality: 8, Service 7, Surroundings 7, Value 8