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Sunday, February 24, 2008
Jalapeno Results Just in ....
By ASHLEY RICHARDS, LAREDO MORNING TIMES
02/24/2008
Laredoans at the Jalapeño Festival eating contest were certain that local competitors had an edge over the professional eaters, who entered the contest for the first time in history."I think locals have a better chance because they're used to it," said Michele Most about 20 minutes before the eaters took the stage. "‘Gringos,' I don't think they can hang
Maribel Wise stood by, ready to give her husband, Russell, a Laredoan, hand signals to keep him informed on his status. Russell had been practicing for months, Maribel said, and during a recent trial run at home, he ate 20 jalapeños in 13 seconds.
"I think he has a shot," Wise said. "He's serious about it. He wants to prove that he can do it."
Russell's brother won second place in 2007, and Russell was determined to show his brother up.
Wise's husband prepared for the contest by starting the day as he normally would, drinking a gallon of water and eating a regular lunch "to keep his stomach working normal."
The Wise brothers went into the competition with a deal: If one of them won, they would split the winnings, which were $3,000, $1,500 and $500 for first through third places.
But about 11 minutes into the 15-minute jalapeño scarfing fest, Mike Castellano, ambassador for the International Federation of Competitive Eating, made it clear the locals were not keeping pace with the professionals.
"The Latinos are dropping like flies," Castellano jokingly said.
The first eater, or "gurgitator," as Castellano referred to them, began spitting up the contents of his stomach about three minutes into the contest. Others followed, though not as quickly.
"I can tell you, after this, these guys are going to need some Vaseline, and possibly (they) wont be able to blow their nose for the next two weeks," Castellano said as he hyped the crowd, many of whom were more fascinated with who would puke next than who was winning.
It seemed the local jalapeño eaters were served a competitive disadvantage when Major League Eaters, who brought in the professional eaters, ordered all the beer off the table. Only non-alcoholic drinks were allowed, which helped the professionals more than anyone, as they were prepared with milk and with water bottles filled with flavored drinks.
The final numbers, however, proved to some in the crowd that the pros were going to take the championship regardless.
Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti, a professional eater and chef from Chicago, shattered the Jalapeño Festival contest (141 in 15 minutes, set in 1991 by Braulio Martinez), stomaching 266 La Costeña jalapeños in 15 minutes. Beer was banned from the contest table during the eating, but when Bertoletti was announced the winner, he chugged one in about a second, again showcasing his gurgitation skills.
In second place was the petite Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, who ate 170 peppers. Eric "The Red" Denmark of Seattle took third place, with 147 jalapeños.
Wise and the dozens of other locals didn't place in the competition, but their enthusiasm showed as they cheerily took the stage, some of them standing on the chairs and chanting, and even after some were disqualified when they threw up into a trash bag.
Eating was a definite draw to the Jalapeño Festival, even if it wasn't competitive.
Alex Potemkin, a Laredo librarian originally from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, waited for the eating contest with a tray of fries in his hand and said the food, shrimp, tacos, shaved ice and more, was a major draw.
"(It's) pretty cool," Potemkin said about his first experience at the festival. "They should have more things like it throughout the year."
(Ashley Richards may be reached at 728-2538 or by e-mail at ashley@lmtonline.com)
©Laredo Morning Times 2008
!st Place Pat Bertoleti 266 peppers
2nd place Sonya Thomas 17opeppers
3rd Place Eric the Red Denmark 147 peppers
By ASHLEY RICHARDS, LAREDO MORNING TIMES
02/24/2008
Laredoans at the Jalapeño Festival eating contest were certain that local competitors had an edge over the professional eaters, who entered the contest for the first time in history."I think locals have a better chance because they're used to it," said Michele Most about 20 minutes before the eaters took the stage. "‘Gringos,' I don't think they can hang
Maribel Wise stood by, ready to give her husband, Russell, a Laredoan, hand signals to keep him informed on his status. Russell had been practicing for months, Maribel said, and during a recent trial run at home, he ate 20 jalapeños in 13 seconds.
"I think he has a shot," Wise said. "He's serious about it. He wants to prove that he can do it."
Russell's brother won second place in 2007, and Russell was determined to show his brother up.
Wise's husband prepared for the contest by starting the day as he normally would, drinking a gallon of water and eating a regular lunch "to keep his stomach working normal."
The Wise brothers went into the competition with a deal: If one of them won, they would split the winnings, which were $3,000, $1,500 and $500 for first through third places.
But about 11 minutes into the 15-minute jalapeño scarfing fest, Mike Castellano, ambassador for the International Federation of Competitive Eating, made it clear the locals were not keeping pace with the professionals.
"The Latinos are dropping like flies," Castellano jokingly said.
The first eater, or "gurgitator," as Castellano referred to them, began spitting up the contents of his stomach about three minutes into the contest. Others followed, though not as quickly.
"I can tell you, after this, these guys are going to need some Vaseline, and possibly (they) wont be able to blow their nose for the next two weeks," Castellano said as he hyped the crowd, many of whom were more fascinated with who would puke next than who was winning.
It seemed the local jalapeño eaters were served a competitive disadvantage when Major League Eaters, who brought in the professional eaters, ordered all the beer off the table. Only non-alcoholic drinks were allowed, which helped the professionals more than anyone, as they were prepared with milk and with water bottles filled with flavored drinks.
The final numbers, however, proved to some in the crowd that the pros were going to take the championship regardless.
Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti, a professional eater and chef from Chicago, shattered the Jalapeño Festival contest (141 in 15 minutes, set in 1991 by Braulio Martinez), stomaching 266 La Costeña jalapeños in 15 minutes. Beer was banned from the contest table during the eating, but when Bertoletti was announced the winner, he chugged one in about a second, again showcasing his gurgitation skills.
In second place was the petite Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, who ate 170 peppers. Eric "The Red" Denmark of Seattle took third place, with 147 jalapeños.
Wise and the dozens of other locals didn't place in the competition, but their enthusiasm showed as they cheerily took the stage, some of them standing on the chairs and chanting, and even after some were disqualified when they threw up into a trash bag.
Eating was a definite draw to the Jalapeño Festival, even if it wasn't competitive.
Alex Potemkin, a Laredo librarian originally from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, waited for the eating contest with a tray of fries in his hand and said the food, shrimp, tacos, shaved ice and more, was a major draw.
"(It's) pretty cool," Potemkin said about his first experience at the festival. "They should have more things like it throughout the year."
(Ashley Richards may be reached at 728-2538 or by e-mail at ashley@lmtonline.com)
©Laredo Morning Times 2008
* milk was used in the contest ( Was Banned In 2002)
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