Most visitors to Maine go straight for the lobster.

Adam Richman, host of the Travel Channel Show “Man v. Food,” chose to begin his Maine feast with an eight-patty cheeseburger in Arundel and something called the  “Apocolypse Now” burger in Portland.

Richman has been in southern Maine for a few days now, filming an episode that reportedly will air in early September. One of his first stops was the Tradewinds Cafe in Arundel, where Richman took on something called the “Manimal Challenge.”

Those who dare to take the challenge must down two slaw or kraut dogs, an order of fries, an eight-patty cheeseburger with grilled onions, a can of Moxie and a one-pound butter pecan milkshake that contains coffeecake in one short sitting.

“It’s over four pounds of food in 20 minutes,” said owner Deena Eskew, who goes by Mary. “You’ll have to watch the show if you want to find the outcome of that, because I’m not telling you.”

Eskew says she and her partner, Brian Coddens, who goes by Hoss, were sworn to secrecy and told not to reveal whether Richman managed to scarf it all down within the 20-minute limit. She did proudly declare that out of the 10 or 11 people who have tried the challenge since last year, only four have succeeded.

Eskew said Richman was at her roadfood cafe from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. “It was a long day, but it was great,” she said. “The crew was awesome. Adam was terrific. He was great to our customers.”

On Monday Richman visited the Maine State Pier and took a schooner ride. Richman also spent the afternoon and part of the evening at Nosh Kitchen Bar on Congress Street, where Chef Jason Loring made him an “Apocalypse Now” burger – three times.

The burger, which sells for $20, is made with American cheese, seared pork belly, cured bacon, foie gras, mayo, and macerated orange and cherries. Loring said Richman also tried his pork belly reuben.

Loring said Richman told him that he had been in Maine for a wedding two weeks ago. “He came in and ate, and after looking at the menu he decided he wanted to do the show here,” Loring said. “It was just a shock for us because we’ve been open five-and-a-half months. It just feels good for someone to notice you right off the bat like that.”

Tuesday morning Richman paid a visit to the Portland Museum of Art for the online segment of his show called “A Side of City.” The museum has photos of Richman’s visit posted on its website at www.portlandmuseum.org/about/blog/

Richman then headed to the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth for – what else?

 

 

 

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