FARMINGTON — Before The Company becomes the Thai Smile and Sushi Restaurant on Sept. 1,  a couple of employees decided to have some fun and use up some supplies.

Customers who can consume a plate of roughly eight pounds of food in an hour or less, eat for free Wednesday, Aug. 24, from 12:30 to 9 p.m., chef William Richards said.

After watching a food challenge, “Man versus Food,” on the History cable channel Sunday, Richards and bartender Joe Marino thought they should hold a similar challenge. The television challenge boasted an eight-pound burrito with four pounds of fries.

Richards came up with an idea for a hefty hamburger plate and Marino posted the challenge on Facebook. People are responding and have called all day Tuesday asking about the eight-pound hamburger, said another employee while waiting tables.

The hamburger challenge begins with Texas-toast grilled cheese sandwiches serving as buns for the four hamburgers, eight-ounces each, Richards said. On top of the grilled cheese and hamburgers there will jalapeno peppers, onion rings, more hamburgers, eight pieces of bacon, a whole tomato and pickle topped with another round of  grilled cheese, he said. Three different cheeses will be used. 

The plate will also contain the equivalent of four potatoes cut into french fries at a cost of $30, unless one person can consume it all in an hour. 

“That’s the prize, it’s free,” he said.

Four or five people can come and share the plate at that price but there’s no challenge, he said. Others are welcome to come watch and join the fun, he added.

The challenge will also dwindle food supplies as the restaurant prepares for the upcoming change to Thai and sushi.

Developed by Jon and Lois Bubier, The Company opened in late December with plans to make it a creative and fun dining experience for their customers. 

During the past eight months, the restaurant and bar featuring a variety of draft beers has offered events such as speed dating, beer and wine tastings, open mic nights and live bands. A special party was held in June for Trek Across Maine cyclists.

Earlier this summer, the Bubiers agreed to a proposal to lease the Front Street restaurant and contents for a new downtown Thai restaurant. Some employees will remain with the new restaurant.

Saturday night will be a special open mic night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in celebration of the restaurant, owner Jon Bubier said.

During the switch next week, the bar, light sandwiches and fried foods will be available until the new restaurant can install its equipment and get started, he said.

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