The Great Burger of Jericho

At Jericho's Burger Hut, a formidable challenge awaits those bold and the hungry. A massive stack of several one pound mystery meat burger patties, separated by layers of whatever Jericho has on hand, usually: bacon, onion rings, ham, pineapple rings, cheese curds, eggs, waffle fries, and as many cheeses and sauces as it takes to stick the tower together (with an optional tomato slice, pickle, and leaf of lettuce on the side), this burger looms over the doomed customer who dares to take on this eating challenge. Some call it an abomination. Others, a mountain to be conquered. For those who can defeat this meat fortress in 3 hours or less (or before last call and close), a princely reward of a free meal and celebratory t-shirt awaits.

The legend of the Great Burger of Jericho is said to have begun just before Jericho first opened the Burger Hut. Around the campfire, it's whispered that Jericho had been lost in the woods, stumbling toward the burgeoning town from the coast or the swamp, depending on the version of the tale. All versions tell how he had been lost for days, thinking about how he was about to die alone in the dark forest. He came upon a clearing with a dead beast. Starving, the huge man quickly set to carving and cooking this lifesaving bounty. As he prepared to take the first bite, he was interrupted by something that had been lurking at the edge of the clearing. The creature, sometimes a devil, or fairy, or ghost or beast, had come to kill him for stealing its quarry. Jericho protested that there was plenty for both to eat their fill. Of course, the creature, being a malicious sort, disagreed, vowing to eat the man for its dessert. Thinking quickly, the wily cook proposed a challenge: he would make a meal of the beast so large that the devil itself could not finish it by the next day. The spirit accepted the challenge, and the cook set about making the meal. He gathered anything remotely edible he could find, adding more to the dish and putting off serving the food for as long as possible. When the time finally came to eat, Jericho ate but paced himself, not daring to turn his back on the monster. He felt his strength returning with the meal, and prepared for fight or flight, but kept plying his enemy with more of the meal. As midnight arrived, Jericho declared his victory. Now it was the fiend who protested: the night was still young, there was plenty of time to finish its meal and devour the man! Shaking his head and not daring to smile, Jericho produced his pocket watch, the hands now touching 12. Enraged, the creature tried to pounce, but was weighed down by its own gluttony. Now too slow to stop the man, Jericho escaped, either killing the creature or running until he stumbled into town, depending on the telling.

Now the great Burger of Jericho honors this tale. Perhaps it exists to spite the creature, or perhaps to test the people around town. Jericho himself has never stated whether any part of the tale is true, or if it even contains a seed of truth. Instead, he only smiles and says he will tell them if they complete the challenge. And so the secret remains, only known by retelling and rumors.