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Friday, March 07, 2008
Marvin: This ball’s for you "Matzah Ball Contest'' ....
Professional eaters, Juris Shibayama, Pat Bertoletti, Joey Chestnut, Nathan Biller, David Cagle use a variety of techniques to attempt to down 99 matzah balls in 8 minutes.By TED POWERS, Food Editor 06.MAR.08Matzah ball eating contest brings national contestants to Houston and benefits the Marvin Zindler Fund for Pancreatic Cancer ResearchWith few championship events in Houston, Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen hosted the Inaugural World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship on Sunday, March 2. Nationally publicized and sanctioned by Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eaters, the contest also was titled “Matzoh Balls for Marvin,” honoring the late broadcast journalist Marvin Zindler, with proceeds benefiting the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Marvin Zindler Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Mayor Bill White declared the day in Houston as Marvin Zindler Day and Zindler’s wife, Niki, received the proclamation.Prize money totaled $1,500 and included a large trophy but, more important, two world eating champions, Joey Chestnut and Patrick Bertoletti, wanted to add matzah balls to their resumes. (In world competition, these eating wizards are referred to as two of the four horsemen of the esophagus.)Last summer, Chestnut beat out Japanese eating star Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. He devoured 66 franks and buns in only 12 minutes, while Kobayashi ate 63. Bertoletti also was there putting away 49 dogs. In February, Chestnut defended his title and number 1 ranking by winning the Wing Bowl for the third consecutive year. He ate an astounding 241 chicken wings in half an hour, 14 more than Bertoletti. Chestnut also ate an incredible 100 burgers in the Krystal Square Off and 8.6 pounds Tempura Deep Fried Aspargus Spears in 10 minutes. Bertoletti ate 22 slices of pizza in 10 minutes, 21 pounds of grits in 10 minutes and 266 jalapeno peppers in 15 minutes. If contestants face the V word, otherwise known as “reversal of fortune” or the “urge contrary to swallowing,” the IFOCE considers that an immediate disqualification. For last weekend’s matzah ball saga, Ziggy Gruber had prepared more than 1,000 matzah balls. In order to be sanctioned by the IFOCE, each matzah ball had to weigh exactly 3-1/2 ounces and the amount of liquid in the containers had to be uniform. In front of each contestant were three pans, each containing 33 matzah balls. There was a potential, in the stated 8 minute time period, of consuming 99 matzah balls.When the competition began, each contestant – five professionals and four amateurs – had a representative from a CPA firm sitting across the table counting the matzah balls consumed and making sure no regulations were broken. Some eaters used water or soda to wash down the balls. One contestant, Bill “Cowboy” Lamza, (possibly not a big fan of this delicacy) used ketchup to wash down the one ball he consumed. He finished in last place. Elisabeth Blanchard, an amateur, struggled to eat eight in 8 minutes. Her technique: first some water, then a bite, more water, then she leaned her head back, shook her head and swallowed. The heavy work was done by the two champions. First Chestnut was ahead, then Bertoletti, then Chestnut. It was neck and neck. Ultimately, Chestnut prevailed, having eaten 78 balls while Bertoletti ate 76. No one else was close.
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