Health & Fitness
Lowell Man Downs 13 Lobster Rolls to Win Contest
Fourteen hungry contestants mouthed-off Saturday in the Seafood Festival Lobster Roll Eating Competition.
GOT LOBSTER? The sure does! And for the contestants at the Third Annual Lobster Roll Eating Contest, the top three who could eat the most got to share $1,000, some very impressive bragging rights, and automatic entry in the 2013 contest.
Desi Lanio, owner of the , was the MC and awarder of the coveted Lobster Eating Competition Championship Belt.
The ten-minute beachfront eating frenzy held on Saturday, Sept. 8, was sponsored by the 401 Tavern and the Pat Whitley Restaurant Show.
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The qualifying round took place at the 401 Tavern in Hampton — not with lobsters... with hot dogs. during the hot dog eating qualifier downing 11 dogs, but he didn’t place with the lobster rolls.
“Hot dogs are easier to get down than lobster rolls. I once ate 22 boiled lobsters at an all-you-can eat buffet. So I don’t have any problem eating!” Vaughn laughed.
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Fourteen qualifiers showed up with hearty appetites for the contest.
This year’s winner, Sao Young from Lowell, Massachusetts was on a liquids-only diet for the last 24 hours in preparation for this lobster roll extravaganza.
“Water is the best," said Young. "It stretches your stomach.”
Young gobbled down 13 lobster rolls in 10 minutes. Those last swallows earned him year-long bragging rights as the 2012 Champion. In the 2011 competition, he , who got to brag all year about eating 12. This year, Young beat his record by one.
“I could have eaten 5 more if I had more time. I still had plenty of room.” When asked his secret, he shared, “I do a little wiggle to move it around in my stomach and I drink Powerade Zero instead of water. It makes it all go down a little smoother.”
First-timer Mike Fournier, 57, of Kensington, came in second with an impressive 10-roll count. His wife Debbie signed him up and told him after. She wasn’t sure he’d go through with it when she discovered that, in order to qualify, he would have to eat hot dogs.
"He hates hot dogs!" she said. "Won’t eat them. Ever!"
When she told him the news, he told her she was crazy.
"Then he thought about it for a minute and said, 'Okay! But only because I love lobster!'" said Debbie.
Steve Venturelli, 50, of Plymouth, Mass., tied with Chris Thurston, 36, of Somersworth, for third place. Venturelli said entering a food eating competition was on his mid-life bucket list of things to do. Before today, two things had already been removed from his list: A white-water rafting adventure in Maine, and racing at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Now he can check off another one. His wife was cheering him on the whole way.
Heidi Camacho, 31, from Pennacook, was the only female contestant. She, a formidable opponent, holds the female record for eating four hamburgers, four baskets of french fries and four large pickles during Billy’s Challenge at Billy’s Sports Bar and Grill in Manchester.
At the qualifier for Saturday’s event, she ate 11 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
"I have been in a few eating competitions," Heidi said. "I really enjoy the challenge and it's fun."
She ate seven lobster rolls in Saturday’s contest.
At the end of the 10 minutes, with bellies filled to the brim and beyond, there were still plenty of smiles, hugs and handshakes, which is just part of what makes this a great contest!
But what about the secret lobster roll recipe? Kelly Regan, an employee of 401 Tavern whispered, "We make them with a little mayo, dill and chopped celery.”
If this gave you a craving for lobster rolls, sign up here for next year’s competition.
