Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 1:20 PM EDT May 17, 2019
After courting the “Man v. Food” cable TV show for more than a year and a half, Blong Yang finally got his wish.
The competitive eating television show filmed a segment Saturday at his Grand Chute shop, Eggrolls Inc.
The show will air in July.
Eggrolls Inc. is at 1015 Mutual Way, in the strip mall north of Walmart.
Yang, a Fox Cities resident, opened it in 2015 as a one-of-a-kind shop that offers Hmong-style egg rolls in a fast food-type setting. Egg rolls are baked rather than fried, and contain bean thread noodles, vegetables, cilantro and a choice of meat.
Most customers are just fine with eating one or two of its regular-size egg rolls for a meal, or ordering spring rolls or lettuce wraps.
Eggrolls Inc. has had a competitive eating challenge on its menu ever since it opened, but few eaters have been successful.
It requires downing a dozen giant egg rolls, about four pounds in all, in 24 minutes. Winners eat for free that day, and get a $150 gift card, T-shirt and photo on the wall of fame.
“More than 100 have tried. Seven have succeeded. That’s no civilians; all competitive eaters,” Yang said. “It’s been six men and one woman.”
Producers for the show contacted Yang last year, but then shelved the filming. When the show transferred from Travel Channel to Food Network this year, they called again.
“We had a somewhat famous regional eater who came in and ate and posted online. That gave us some legitimacy,” said Yang. “The show was looking for something unique and different. They’ve never featured Hmong food. They’ve never done an egg roll challenge.”
Interestingly, Yang said producers don’t say the shop is in Appleton or Grand Chute. “They describe it as ‘just outside of Green Bay’ because they wanted the Green Bay reference.”
“Man v. Food” is hosted by Casey Webb, who took over from original host Adam Richman.
Yang can’t reveal how Webb did on the challenge until the show airs, but said Webb was a hit with customers and friends who watched the day-long filming.
“Casey was the last one to leave. People wanted photos with him and autographs. He gave people whatever they wanted and was gracious about it. He loves his job.”
Yang hopes the airing will boost business, as it has done for other featured restaurants, and perhaps move it toward franchising.
“As a small family owned business, I could never pay for the kind of exposure they’re going to give me,” he said. “I’m very blessed.”
Contact Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
More: The Buzz: Coventry Glassworks to close
More: The Buzz: Shop born after Younkers closure
Let’s block ads! (Why?)
