Previously:
If you're reading a blog about Texas Pop Culture then you're probably already aware of the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. What you may not be aware of is the 2002 film Waking Up in Reno. In it, a quarter of fairly obnoxious couples go on a road trip and like the best road trips, they make a stop at the legendary restaurant.
This wasn't just some quickie lip service about a famous roadside Route 66 attraction that was actually shot in some Hollywood sound stage. The production filmed scenes at the actual legendary destination.
Billy Bob Thornton is one of the stars of the film and the Big Texan scene is pretty much what you'd expect. But before we get to the inevitable "full belly" situation, a true Amarillo legend makes a cameo in the film. If you've been to the restaurant, you've no doubt met Hodie Portfield. He appears in the film in his trademark animal skin outfit:
Well, as you can imagine, Billy Bob takes on the Big 72 Ounce Steak challenge and succeeds! And while he didn't do it in real life, fictionally eating the 72 Ouncer can go on his Texas Resume alongside fictionally fighting in the Alamo.
As often happens in real life, four and a half pounds of beef was a little too much for Billy Bob's character and things get a little out of hand. As you can see, Hodie steps in to help out, which I assume would also happen in real life:
So the next time you head up to Amarillo, let Billy Bob's story be a cautionary tale: there's no need to try to eat that much food in one sitting. But it you can do it...it's free!
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