Opinion: Would you like lard with that?
By Nick Palm CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“Dr.” Jon Basso cannot help you with your migraines or arthritis. He has never gone to medical school. His employees, or “nurses,” have never checked a patient’s pulse or taken his temperature. Basso can help you with one thing: He can cook one of the unhealthiest meals you will ever eat.
Located outside of Phoenix in Chandler, Ariz., the aptly named Heart Attack Grill serves a menu that would make Jenny Craig tremble with repugnance. The menu includes the “Single,” “Double,” “Triple,” and “Quadruple Bypass Burger,” each ranging from one-half to two pounds of beef per burger. Finish that off with an order of “Flatliner Fries,” and you’re looking at an 8,000 calorie lunch. Of course, everything on the menu is cooked in pure lard. The restaurant even sells hard liquor, unfiltered cigarettes, and regular Coke -- don’t even think of asking for Diet Coke.
The health care industry has taken notice and filed a legal complaint about the restaurant but, surprisingly, not about the food. In 2006 the Arizona State Board of Nursing complained to the state’s attorney general about the restaurant’s Hooters-esque scantily clad waitresses. The board complained the waitresses negatively represented the nursing community. Basso added a disclaimer to his Web site, heartattackgrill.com, after learning Arizona forbids false portrayal of nurses.
Why would a man in his right mind open this restaurant when, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 33.3 percent of Americans over age 20 are overweight, and a health craze is sweeping the nation?
“Americans are sick and tired of being told ‘Hey, this is bad for you. Don’t do it!,’ and they think for one golden moment, ‘I’m gonna get what I want!’” Basso said. “And [what I want] is a big, full, sugary, rich Coca Cola and a Quadruple Bypass Burger, dripping with fat.”
More power to you, Basso. By putting aside regards for public health, objectification of women, and improvement of your community, you have “made it” in the business world.
Basso realized that by selling things that are extremely bad for your health, his establishment could become a media magnet. His gimmick works. We all know there’s no such thing as bad publicity and so far, this business is thriving because of its negative public image.
Next time you’re in the Phoenix area and need a fix of extreme artery-clogging lard-fried perfection, head to the Heart Attack Grill. Oh, and good news — anyone weighing over 350 pounds eats for free. Think of it as an incentive.
