Explore the nearly 10-foot-long Gatsby: The South African culinary wonder of Annies Ladies Bar
A South African restaurant has made headlines with its latest creation: a 3-meter-long (9.8 feet) sandwich. Annies Ladies Bar in Cape Town, known for its penchant for oversized culinary feats, unveiled this massive Gatsby sub, following the success of their 2019 burger that weighed a staggering 124 kilograms (273 pounds).
This colossal Gatsby sandwich boasts no fewer than 10 layers of fillings, tipping the scales at 65.27 kilograms (145 pounds). According to Joe Redelinghuys, the mastermind behind this creation who runs the restaurant alongside his wife, Annie, the sandwich took over four hours to prepare and cost approximately $160 in ingredients.
Those ingredients included: 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of tomatoes. About 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of meat, from three types of sliced sausage to steak to burger patties and chicken fillets. Three layers of french fries weighing a total of around 10 kilograms (22 pounds) to break up the meats. A layer of calamari for those who prefer seafood. And, finally, a generous helping of onion rings on top. All in a sandwich.
The biggest obstacle? Finding a bread roll big enough to hold all these ingredients. Redelinghuys had to commission three 1-meter (3 feet) rolls, specially baked and then joined together to accommodate the sandwich’s massive size.
This giant sandwich is a tribute to the Gatsby, a famous South African takeaway that has a rich history. Traditionally, the Gatsby consists of “slap chips” — soft, sloppy french fries — and meat in a thick bread roll, typically large enough to feed multiple people. The Gatsby was born in Cape Town in the mid-1970s as a convenient meal for blue-collar workers, who would cut it up and share it.
The name “Gatsby” is said to have been inspired by the release of the movie The Great Gatsby around the same time.
Annies Ladies Bar recently added Gatsbys to their menu, and the idea for this supersized version emerged during a casual conversation at the bar. “So, I said next Saturday I’m going to make the biggest Gatsby in South Africa,” Redelinghuys recalled.
Close-up of the three meter long layer of Gatsby cake
And the greatest Gatsby it is. Redelinghuys has already contacted South African record officials, and the sandwich is in the process of being recognized as the country’s biggest Gatsby. However, it falls short of the world record for the largest sandwich, which is held by a grill in Roseville, Michigan, with a sandwich weighing an incredible 2,467 kilograms (5,440 pounds) made in 2005, according to Guinness World Records.
The Gatsby sub, now a fond memory, was shared among Annies’ regular customers, feeding approximately 140 people. “We invited a lot of our regular clients to come and eat the sandwich,” Redelinghuys said. “And they invited friends. And their friends invited friends.”
