Tampa, Florida —"A Florida Man" Arrested After Attempting to Cook His Own Steak on a Waffle House Grill
Authorities in Tampa say a 52-year-old man was taken into custody early Sunday morning after entering a closed Waffle House, turning on the grill, and attempting to cook himself a “medium rare ribeye and hash browns, smothered and covered.”
Police say the suspect, identified as Curtis “Griddle King” Malone, broke a window to get inside around 3:45 a.m. Surveillance footage shows him wearing a cowboy hat, apron, and oven mitts as he seasoned the steak and flipped it with professional flair.
When officers arrived, Malone reportedly told them, “I’m not stealing — I’m auditioning.” He then handed one officer a plate and said, “Try that and tell me it’s not better than corporate.”
The arrest report notes that Malone had brought his own ribeye wrapped in aluminum foil and was using bacon grease he found on-site. When asked why he broke in instead of going home, he said, “I respect the Waffle House vibe. It’s the only place that feels like family after midnight.”
Malone faces charges of burglary and criminal mischief but told reporters as he was escorted away, “You can lock me up, but you can’t overcook my dreams.”