For a while a friend of mine had been saying how big some of the pizzas were at Al Fornos in Wimbledon, and how the large pizza would be an incredible challenge

Now while I cannot compete with the IFOCE competitors,

http://www.ifoce.com/

I consider myself a reasonable gannet. However, one cannot compete successfully without adequate preparation, so the evening before I went to The Big Easy

http://www.bigeasy.uk.com/v1/index.html

for a 24oz T Bone steak. This was not the biggest on the menu, the 32oz is - I had this last time but preferred the 24oz and felt it would be adequate preparation for the upcoming challenge. Although this size of steak sounds large, it pales into insignificance when compared to Denny's beer barrel pub in Pennsylvania

http://www.dennysbeerbarrelpub.com/

http://www.dennysbeerbarrelpub.com/menu2.htm

I believe that I could do the Pub Challenger and Pub Super Challenger, but beyond this would be pushing things.

The pizza arrived, and it looked pretty substantial

although it had a thin base, so wasn't (quite) as intimidating as it looks in the picture. My strategy was to eat in a brisk fashion before I started to feel signs of fullness, and it wasn't until I had around a quarter left that I started to find the going arduous. However, I wasn't to be defeated, and after around 20 minutes emerged victorious

As with all competitions, there are winners and losers. One of those unable to complete the challenge had been too busy enjoying wine and had let his preparation slip

The wine shown in the picture is Angus the Bull 2002 vintage

http://www.angusthebull.com/reviews/

and I ordered from Jascotts

http://www.jascots.co.uk/start.html

http://www.hardens.com/about/LR07_release_2.htm

Chez Bruce came second while Mirabelle was described as a "fading classic".

After my visit to Gordon Ramsey last week.

http://www.noelwatson.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,5ad825a1-b7ac-4103-8531-c51302eefd7a.aspx

I had the chance to go to a different type of restaurant yesterday.

http://www.bigeasy.uk.com/

This place is unashamedly American, with the emphasis on meat and lots of it. I had the 24oz T-Bone King Cut - good value at £17.90. All the steaks are Angus and are aged for a minimum of three weeks.

Before visiting the Big Easy, my previous favourite in London was Sophie's Steakhouse.

http://www.sophiessteakhouse.co.uk/

Also comparable (of the places I've visited) is Beltazar in Capetown.

http://www.noelwatson.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,0e82712d-ead7-4b06-bf72-f9b2daad239d.aspx

A friend has recommended Rodizio Rico.

http://www.rodizio.co.uk/menu_pgs/our_menu.html

fixed price for as much meat as you can eat.

I was lucky enough to go here last night

http://www.gordonramsay.com/royalhospitalroad/

The restaurant is the only 3 star Michelin Restaurant in London.

http://www.homestead.com/andyhayler/files/3_Michelin_Star_Restaurants.htm

We went for the menu prestige

http://www.gordonramsay.com/royalhospitalroad/menus/menuprestige/

and spent over 4 hours at the table.

The only restaurant that I have been to that comes close to this is Le Quartier Francais, which I visited in South Africa a few months ago

http://www.noelwatson.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,0e82712d-ead7-4b06-bf72-f9b2daad239d.aspx

Both restaurants feature in the best 50 restaurants in the world in 2006

http://www.theworlds50best.com/bestlist.aspx

Ramsey @13 and Le Quartier Francais @38

although they have slipped from their 2005 rankings

If I were to compare the two, I would say that they are on a par with food, but the service at Ramseys was exceptional. I would love to go again, but apparently getting a table is extremely difficult.

Next on the list is The Fat Duck

http://www.fatduck.co.uk/

This is also a three star Michelin Restaurant and won the best restaurant award in 2005.

I would also like to go to Chez Bruce on Wandsworth Common

http://www.chezbruce.co.uk/

• Fly Virgin

Usually, at 6ft 3, I find travelling long distances in cattle class to be uncomfortable. However, Virgin's A340-600 have more than enough legroom, and on the return flight I managed to purchase an exit seat. The movies/music on demand service was excellent too.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourfleet/index.jsp?type=7

• Visit table mountain

http://www.tablemountain.net/main/index.asp

We were too blase about the good weather one morning and decided to leave it until another day. Unfortunately it was too windy/cloudy for the remainder of our time in Capetown meaning that we didn't get the chance to go up

• Go on Safari

• Makanyane

Makanyane is a truly special place - note that South Africa charges two rates, one for tourists and one for locals.

http://www.makanyane.com/

http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/article336876.ece

We used Tracy at South African Soujourns to blag the cheaper rate

http://africansojourns.com/

although you may be able to find a few offers by searching the web

http://www.makanyane.com/reservations_specialrates.php

http://www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/specials_files/makanyane_lodge.html

• Mabula

We then went to Mabula for a wedding. Less personal, but a lot cheaper. Same range of animals on Safari

http://www.mabula.com/

• Go wine tasting

There are several ways of doing this - we chose to hire bikes.

http://www.franschhoekwines.co.za/

Rickety bridge had really good wines

http://www.wine.co.za/directory/winery.aspx?PRODUCERID=3258e

and the biggest bottle of wine I have ever seen - a Primat. Yours for 18000 Rand (<£1800)

We wanted to go to Stoney Brook as we had enjoyed one of their wines the previous night, but they weren't open for tasting

http://www.wine-lovers-page.com/cgi-bin/quest/ga.cgi?q=49

• Sample steak

Belthazar - voted best steak house in South Africa

http://www.belthazar.co.za/

http://www.belthazar.co.za/award.s05.html

• Sample fine cuisine

This restaurant has received several awards but you could get a six course meal for only 300 Rand (<£30)

http://www.lequartier.co.za/cuisine/cuisine.htm