Regular readers of this blog know that I have a thing for eating contests. While I have never personally participated in one, I find myself strangely attracted to the sight of people shoving endless amounts of food into their mouths at high rates of speed.
Thanksgiving meals are similar to eating contests only minus the speed. Which is not to say that Turkey Day was minus an eating contest this year. Thanks to the Food Bank of New York City and one major league eater fans of eating contests could get their fill watching Tim Janus devour a Thanksgiving meal for 10 in just 15 minutes.
The turkey throwdown was part of a public relations stunt to draw attention to New York City’s hungry. In it Janus, who holds world titles in cannolis, marshmallow Peeps and tiramisu, consumed a 10-pound turkey, four pounds of mashed potatoes, three pounds of cranberry sauce, 2 1/2 pounds of beans, and an entire pumpkin pie in less time than it takes some people to find the TV remote.
Janus’ reward for chowing down on more than 10,000 calories—-a $6,000 donation made in his name to the Food Bank of New York City–a sum that will provide 30,000 meals to those in need.
The turkey tales continue in Minnesota where a couple of siblings spent Thanksgiving competing in another type of turkey contest.
Each year Rich and Andra Portnoy vie for bragging rights as to who can prepare the biggest Thanksgiving bird. Yesterday, Rich walked away the winner after roasting a 72-pound turkey. His record-breaking tubby turkey trounced his sister’s 47-pounder.
Rich reportedly basted his bird in a specially designed 36-inch-wide, chef-caliber oven. After 15 hours of roasting Rich had to have two other men help him pull the turkey from the oven.
Rich says he got his hands on the big bird when he approached the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. They found him an 85-pound breeding tom that, at 59 weeks old, was near the end of its useful life. Rich says bought the turkey for $30, loaded the live bird into the back of the family’s car and drove it to a processor, where it was made oven-ready at 72 pounds.
According to Rich, the prize-winning turkey was the main attraction at his Thanksgiving feast, which included 30 other family members and friends.
Wonder how many pounds of leftovers the Portnoy’s are dealing with today.
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