This massive Gatsby sub from a South African restaurant pushes the boundaries of size and flavor

A South African restaurant in Cape Town, known for its supersized offerings, recently unveiled a colossal creation: a 3-meter-long (9.8 feet) submarine sandwich. The inspiration for this behemoth came from Joe Redelinghuys, the owner of Annies Ladies Bar, during a lively conversation with patrons over drinks. This isn't the first time the restaurant has wowed its customers with oversized fare as they previously crafted a 124-kilogram (273-pound) burger back in 2019. SSP reported.

The gigantic sandwich, lovingly referred to as the Gatsby consisted of an impressive 10 layers of fillings. Carefully balanced on a weighing machine using a tray with supports, it weighed a whopping 65.27 kilograms (145 pounds). Creating this mammoth meal required over four hours of preparation and approximately $160 worth of ingredients. Joe Redelinghuys, who manages Annies Ladies Bar with his wife Annie, shared that components such as 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of tomatoes, 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of meat ranging from sliced sausage to steak, burger patties, and chicken fillets, as well as three layers of french fries totaling around 10 kilograms (22 pounds), were assembled. For seafood aficionados, a layer of calamari was included, followed by a generous portion of onion rings atop the sandwich. Various sauces, including garlic, cheese, pepper, mushroom, and tartare, were chosen based on each layer's composition.

Procuring an appropriate bread roll to accommodate the colossal fillings proved challenging for Redelinghuys. The solution involved specially baking three 1-meter (3 feet)-long rolls and seamlessly joining them together.

The Gatsby reflects a South African takeaway tradition with its origins in the mid-1970s. Made with chunky bread rolls, "slap chips" (messy french fries), and meat fillings, the Gatsby treat initially evolved as a substantial meal suited for blue-collar workers who would divide and share it among themselves. Legend has it that the name "Gatsby" was inspired by the release of the movie "The Great Gatsby" during that era.

The creation at Annies Ladies Bar has gained attention not only for its colossal size but also for its potential to become South Africa's biggest Gatsby. Redelinghuys has been in contact with local record officials to have it officially recognized. However, it falls short of the world record set by a grill in Roseville, Michigan, which boasts a staggering 2,467-kilogram (5,440-pound) sandwich in 2005, according to the Guinness World Records.

After proudly presenting the Gatsby to their regular patrons, the mammoth creation was shared among approximately 140 lucky individuals who savored the unique culinary experience. The word spread and friends of friends were invited to participate, making it a true feast to remember at Annies Ladies Bar.