Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Spokesman for Las Vegas Heart Attack Grill which serves 'taste worth dying for' dies of a heart attack aged 52

  • John Alleman visited the restaurant daily and would often spend hours outside encouraging other people to go in
  • He was given his own caricature - Patient John - for the Grill's merchandise
  • Restaurant holds Guinness world record for 'most calorific burger' and warns customers against eating there more than once a month


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    The unofficial spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill restaurant in Las Vegas - which prides itself on 'taste worth dying for' - has died of a heart attack at the age of 52.
    John Alleman visited the infamous restaurant, which holds the Guinness world record for the 'most calorific burger', on a daily basis and would often stand outside encouraging other people to enter.
    He suffered a heart attack last week and was rushed to Sunrise Hospital, where he remained until doctors removed his life support on Monday.
    JohnJohn Alleman
    Passed: John Alleman, the unofficial spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas, has died from a heart attack. He was such a fan of the eatery that they made him a caricature, Patient John, right
    The owner of the hospital-themed restaurant, 'Doctor Jon' Basso told the Las Vegas Sun: 'I told him if you keep eating like this, it's going to kill ya.
    'He'd say, "I just love your place, Jon." He's the only person I know who was probably at the restaurant more than I.'
     

    Alleman was such a valued member of the Heart Attack Grill Community that he was given his own caricature - 'Patient John' - that featured on merchandise for the restaurant.
    The caricature also appeared on the front of the menu, along with other hospital-themed characters representing staff.
    Scene: The Heart Attack Grill, pictured, is famous for selling the world's most calorific burger
    Unhealthy: The Heart Attack Grill, pictured, is famous for selling the world's most calorific burger

    Heart-stopping: The menu includes a Quadruple Bypass Burger and Flatliner Fries, which are cooked in lard
    Heart-stopping: The menu includes a Quadruple Bypass Burger and Flatliner Fries, which are cooked in lard
    Danger: The owner said he discourages people from visiting the restaurant more than once a month
    Danger: The owner said he discourages people from visiting the restaurant more than once a month
    'For the past 18 months if you happen to walk by the Heart Attack Grill you were probably approached by our new spokesman John Alleman,' the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page.
    'John truly loved HAG and would spend hours every day getting the word out to anyone who would listen.'
    Alleman lived with his only relative, his brother, Paul, and had never married nor had children. He worked night shifts as a security guard at a high-rise construction site on the Vegas Strip.
    The restaurant added: 'John was a fun spirited man who valued laughter above all else,' the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page. 'He was loved deeply and will be missed.'
    Beloved: Alleman was remembered on the restaurant's Facebook page as 'a fun-spirited man who will be missed'
    Beloved: Alleman was remembered on the restaurant's Facebook page as 'a fun-spirited man who will be missed'
    Well known: His image appears on merchandise for the hospital-themed restaurant
    Well known: His image appears on clothing and merchandise for the hospital-themed restaurant
    Alleman is the second Heart Attack Grill spokesman to die; in March 2011, 29-year-old Blair River passed away. At the time, Basso said River had succumbed to flu-related pneumonia.
    The following year, a customer suffered a heart attack while eating a triple bypass burger in the restaurant, and two months later, a customer collapsed while eating a double bypass burger.
    Speaking to Eater Vegas last year, Basso said his business was 'absolutely honest' and said he warned people against going to the restaurant more than once a month.

    'I say it right in the door, "Caution this establishment is bad for your health",' he said.
    Second death: Former Heart Attack Grill spokesman Blair River, pictured, died aged 29 in 2011
    Second death: Former Heart Attack Grill spokesman Blair River, pictured, died aged 29 in 2011

    Owner: 'Doctor Jon' Basso takes the pulse of Miss Plus America in his hospital-themed restaurant
    Owner: 'Doctor Jon' Basso takes the pulse of Miss Plus America in his hospital-themed restaurant

    Heart stopper: A customer shows off the Guinness world record-breaking burger containing 9,982 calories
    Heart stopper: A customer shows off the Guinness world record-breaking burger containing 9,982 calories
    The Heart Attack Grill's menu includes 'Flatliner Fries' which are cooked in lard, and a Quadruple Bypass Burger, which weighs more than three pounds and contains 9,982 calories.
    The restaurant is hospital themed and customers are referred to as 'patients', orders are called 'prescriptions' and the waitresses are 'nurses'.
    Customers weighing more than 350 pounds are invited to unlimited free food provided they weigh themselves on an electronic platform in front of other diners.


    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2277596/John-Alleman-Mascot-Las-Vegas-Heart-Attack-Grill-serves-taste-worth-dying-dies-heart-attack.html#ixzz2KiQ5VLbH 
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