Arctic explorers are famed for consuming thousands of calories in a day. Facing some of the toughest conditions that the planet has to offer, they need a massive amount of energy simply to keep their bodies going.
And if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to consume that much, Green Door Bar and Grill, on London’s Cornhill, is now giving you the opportunity to do so.
To honour the exploits of this winter’s Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition, Green Door has put together a special menu that matches the 6,000 calories that the team will be consuming.
In a modern-day re-enactment of the 1909 Nimrod Expedition, the Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition will see five descendants of the original team set off on October 29th, exactly 100 years to the day after their ancestors.
The team will use Shackleton’s personal compass to navigate the icy wastelands, covering a total distance of 900 miles. Whilst doing so, they will be consuming around 6,000 calories daily to ensure they have enough energy to face the gruelling task of pulling 300lb sledges for ten hours a day.
Alexa Reid, MD of Green Door, explains: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Shackleton, and when I heard about the expedition, I thought that this would be a great way to get involved.”
In addition to featuring a 20oz version of Green Door’s famous Aberdeen Angus steak, the £75 meal will also include a modern twist on “hoosh”, a staple in the early days of polar exploration. Whilst in Shackleton’s time this comprised a mixture of penguin and cereal, Green Door has devised an altogether more appetising version, this time based on goose rather than penguin.
The substantial meal will be on Green Door’s menu from September 25th, and will be available to hungry restaurant-goers prepared to take the Shackleton Centenary Meal Challenge until the team reach the Pole, which is expected to be around January 17th next year. For every meal sold, a £10 donation will be made to the Shackleton Foundation charity.
The leader of the Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition, Lt. Col. Henry Worsley, a descendant of Shackleton’s skipper Frank Worsley, is keen to point out that the Expedition is driven by more than a simple desire to complete their ancestors’ unfinished business.
Worsley explains: “We’re using the venture to launch the £10m Shackleton Foundation, a charity designed to fund and support individuals who exemplify the spirit of Sir Ernest Shackleton: inspirational leaders with a commitment to succeed, a willingness to take risks, and an ability to inspire and energise others in particular to the less advantaged.”
Commenting on the sheer volume of calories in Green Door’s creation, Worsley says: “Obviously this isn’t a meal for the faint-hearted, but I’m sure there are a few people in the City who’ll be up for the challenge. There will, of course, be honour and recognition in the case of success!”
For further information, you can call Green Door on 020 7929 1378, or visit their website at www.greendoorsteakhouse.co.uk
The full menu:
Appetiser
Pork Scratching with a sticky Sweet Chilli Dip (1030 cal)
Bottle of Stella (242 cal)
Starter
Hoosh - a stew originally prepared by Ernest Shackleton over a methylated spirit burner and consisting of Goose (as a substitute for Penguin), Corned Beef, Oats, Potato and Seasoning (1030 cal)
Bottle of Stella (242 cal)
Main Course
20oz Aberdeen Angus Rib Eye on the bone (1040 cal)
Cauliflower Gratin (300 cal)
Mushrooms and Creamed Spinach (300 cal)
French Fries (200 cal)
250 ml Glass of Red Wine (160 cal)
Glass of Coke (150 cal)
Dessert
Chocolate Fondant with 2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream (1000 cal)
Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream Shake (500 cal)
