Vic's Pizza 12 E. Coffee St Downtown Greenville, Sc is set for a major Food Challenge Throw Down! This is the first food challenge ever in dynamic downtown Greenville, Sc. Checkout the entire story here:
Austin, Josh and Brenda McCord, who own Vic’s Pizza on Coffee Street, developed the food challenge this year to give people a chance to test their inner competitor and to add a draw to downtown Greenville.
The Godfather involves something called the Bronx Bomber, a massive 28-inch pizza covered in Vic’s signature sauce and cheese blend, and any combination of toppings you want. The whole thing just has to total six pounds in the end. Oh, and you have 30 minutes to eat the entire thing.
“We knew no one was doing a food challenge in downtown Greenville, and it’s a big trend now,” Austin says. “So we said let’s be the first to do a food challenge.”
The McCords took over Vic’s in February and have steadily been revamping the quaint pizzeria. New chef Jon Rocco has refined the menu, adding new recipes and retooling old ones. The McCords have also added ambiance with posters and New York-themed art, and a radio blasting classic oldies.
“I was born in Brooklyn, so I’ve got a little New York DNA,” Austin says. “So we livened it up and New Yorked it up.”
And that also meant adding a food challenge. To Austin’s knowledge, it is the first in the downtown Greenville area, and one he hopes will generate buzz and be plain
fun
.
The challenge works like this — would-be challengers call ahead to state their intentions. This is necessary, Austin says, since a 6-pound pizza takes a fair amount of time to prepare. Then they come in and they have a half-hour to finish the whole thing, toppings, crust and all. Winners get their picture on the wall of fame.
But challengers be warned, losers will have to pay the $40 for their pie and get their picture on the wall.
“If you lose, there is consequence,” Austin says. “You’ll be part of the Vic’s losing team, and we’ll make fun of you too.”
The Godfather Challenge kicks off next Sunday when the first challenger gives it a go. Brant Kennedy may be known for his restaurant, Sassafras Southern Bistro, but he is also a fairly accomplished eater, and the local restaurateur will be the first competitor to take on the Bronx Bomber. And if he’s nervous, Kennedy doesn’t show it.
“I’m a pretty competitive person, and I love to eat, which works for me,” Kennedy says with a laugh. “People ask me, so are you training for this? I said man, I’ve been training my whole life for this. I eat every day.”
Kennedy is no stranger to food challenges. He tackled and beat the atomic wings challenge at Quaker Steak and Lube, and he mastered the Spicy Tuna Hand Roll Challenge at Bushido Japanese Restaurant in Charleston too. The one challenge that has tripped Kennedy up thus far is the 8-pound burrito at Papas and Beer.
“We did all we could in 20 minutes, but that was eight pounds of burrito,” Kennedy says.
But he’s feeling confident about the Godfather.
“People are like, oh, 6-pound pizza, you’re not going to be able to do that,” Kennedy says. “The more people against me, the more I want to dominate it. It’s on.”
Kennedy will compete in the Godfather Food Challenge at Vic’s Pizza at noon on April 6. The pizzeria has limited space, but spectators are welcome to sneak a look through the window as they pass by.
We're open to all comers. www.vicspizza4u.com
