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Thursday, March 20, 2008
Pickle This! Competitive eaters get their fill of dill
MARIA E. VARONIS
Insider contributor
Local eatery Bagel St. Deli closed up shop a bit early this past Friday to commence its ninth annual Pickle Fest. Highly anticipated by both BSD employees and local pickle lovers alike, the annual pickle-eating contest is an event not for the faint of heart - or stomach.
"I think you have got to be a complete maniac to enter this contest," said Ohio University sophomore Rob McConnell, who beat out more than 40 competitors to become champion of this year's contest. McConnell ate 13 full-sized dill pickles in 10 minutes He tied the existing record and gained the coveted title of "Pickle Champ 2008."
The eating competition has become somewhat of a staple at the bagel shop for everyone involved.
"Pickle Fest is simply a tradition, and traditions are a nice thing to continue," Megan McElligott, part-owner of the deli, said. "We have established almost a decade of pickle-eating, crazy college students."
"I think it's one of the coolest things we do," Art Oestrike, another BSD part-owner, said. "(The previous owner) wanted to use something in the menu, but who wants to do an all you can eat bagel contest? I mean, think about the repercussions of that. So, hence, the pickle thing."
For some, this "pickle thing" includes extensive research and vigorous training. For instance, McConnell studied and used the techniques of world-renowned hot dog-eating champion Takeru Kobayashi.
"I just came in prepared, psyched myself up and shoved 13 pickles in my mouth somehow," he said of his performance. "It felt great until about an hour afterwards, and then it really hurt."
Many fellow participants commiserated with this downside of competitive eating.
"Pickle Fest was a lot harder than I had anticipated," contestant Katie Knauff said. "Eating all those pickles makes your teeth feel horrible, and I felt sick for a good couple of hours. I probably won't do it again. I just don't like pickles anymore."
Competitor Michael Swepston used his experience to better prepare for the future.
"Pickle Fest was intense but I have to do it again because this year I sucked," he said. "I need to do better next year, so I probably won't eat another pickle until then."
Although some were less than thrilled with the reality of mass pickle-eating, the event itself seemed to leave a good taste in contestants' mouths.
"Everyone was so friendly and wearing funny T-shirts. I loved it," Knauff said.
And though stomachs may suffer, winning the Pickle Fest is not a feat to be taken lightly. Bragging rights and glory aside, winners receive a complimentary Pickle Fest T-shirt, and ultimate Pickle Champs are also invited to invent and name their own bagel sandwich creation to be added to the extensive Bagel Street Deli menu. Past winners have created bagelwich hits such as the Debbie, Debbie, Debbie and Ritter's Meat.
McConnell already has a bagel creation in mind, though he's not ready to divulge it just yet.
"I can't believe I did it," he said. "And, hey, if I'm around next year, I've got to see if I can win it again. It was too much fun."
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