Loosen your belts!
Eddy’s Bake Shop on Main Street in Ansonia is gearing up for its annual paczki-eating contest, and is putting a call out to interested eaters who want to participate.
Owner Paul Ciocca sat down with the Valley Indy for a couple minutes Friday (Jan. 29) to talk about the history of the eating contest, which began 17 years ago.
Ciocca said he came up with the idea after reading a trade magazine that discussed the popularity of the paczki (pronounced PUNCH-key) among Polish-Americans on Fat Tuesday.
The idea paid off — Ciocca said the shop usually sells about 125 dozen of the delectables every year on Fat Tuesday.
Paczkis are very large doughnuts, essentially, with different fillings. They weigh about a quarter-pound apiece.
“We call them doughnuts on steroids,” Ciocca said.
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The Polish custom of making them on Fat Tuesday stems from the need to use up fat, eggs, and dairy products before the fasting and abstinence of Lent.
Last year’s contest was won by Bethel’s Manny “The Manimal” Cambra, who put down a dozen paczkis, just one and a half short of the record.
Ciocca said he hasn’t yet heard from Cambra whether he’ll defend his title.
Anyone interested in taking this year’s crown should call the shop at 203 – 735-0501 and let them know you’ll be there.
Walk-up contestants are allowed, Ciocca said, but he likes to have a good idea of how many people will be showing up.
The business is also offering cash prizes.
First prize is $150. Second prize gets $50. Other participants will receive gift certificates.
A flier is posted below.
