FIRST it was the giant burger that was enough to feed a family of four for a week, now it is the turn of the humongous hot dog.

The huge sausage in a bun is the latest supersized challenge being offered to hungry diners at a Southampton restaurant.

Buzz’s Diner in Southampton High Street already made a name for itself when it created a gigantic burger called Buzz’s Big One.

Now its latest creation is once again inspired by the hit TV show Man vs Food – the programme where a man takes on supersized eating challenges.

The 2ft loaded ‘sharing dog’, like its name suggests, is stacked with a plethora of toppings.

Costing £20.95, the hot dog comes with fried onions, grated cheese, diced onions, diced jalapenos, pickles, cheese sauce, American chilli, diced tomato and diced peppers.

If that’s not enough to make your eyes water, it also comes with bowls of chips and coleslaw.

It has been created for people to share – although Buzz’s Diner owner Mark Thurston-Jones is hoping there will be a few brave challengers who will take it on as a supersize eating challenge.

One man inside Buzz’s Diner had already managed to eat it at the first attempt, but couldn’t finish off the chips or coleslaw. Tim Brown, 42, from Worthing, munched through it in less than 30 minutes.

It is slightly smaller than Buzz’s Big One, which weighs nearly 2kg and comes with a 48oz patty, eight slices of bacon, half a pound of cheese, a huge portion of mushrooms and is served on a 1kg portion of chips.

Mr Thurston-Jones said: “I think it is going to be more popular than Buzz’s Big One, because it is more achievable.”

Taking on the Challenge

Daily Echo: Reporter Michael Carr, right, with Buzz's Diner chef Paul Mortimer, left, and owner Mark Thurston-Jones.

I SWORE that I would never do another eating challenge.

Just two months ago I took on Buzz’s giant hamburger and failed dismally – much to the amusement and disbelief of my mates.

So when the restaurant announced it has come up with a new challenge – the massive 2ft hot dog – I kept my head down and looked busy.

Alas, memories in newsrooms never fade and there was no escape – I was immediately sent off for a Mike vs Food rematch.

This time, though, I had the experience of my previous burger battle to call on, and I felt a bit more confident.

But my eyes were bigger than my stomach and I was later to find out just how misplaced that confidence was.

Despite its monstrous length the hot dog is infact much easier to eat than Buzz’s Big One and I set about taking it down.

With every growing mouthful I threw a little more caution to the wind. I was eventually ripping chunks out handful by handful – in a manner that should probably never be repeated at
any dinner table, especially on a romantic date with your girlfriend.

But half way through I hit a barrier I had not expected – I felt as stunned as boxer George Groves after that surprise right hook from champ Carl Froch during the weekend’s world title fight.

After gathering my thoughts for a second, I refocused and took a deep breath, but it was not to be. It had beaten me. My eyes rolled.

This was it, I thought. A new low. I’d been knocked out by a hot dog.

With a mixture of melted cheese, coleslaw and chilli sauce dripping from my chin, I hung my head in shame.

I pushed my plate to one side, chips still untouched, and wiped my mouth – defeated for a second time by food.

When the next eating challenge comes into the newsroom, I hope my
bosses can certainly count me out.