Pizza, anyone?
It’s hard to imagine that any of the dozen contestants in Wednesday’s pizza eating contest at Zois Pizza in Seymour would want to indulge anytime soon.
The competition, held at noon outside the Main Street restaurant, benefitted Project Purple, a nonprofit that raises awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research.
The event paired judges with contestants who represented local companies.
The judges were given stopwatches to time the contestants’ consumption of a 16-inch cheese pizza. That’s 12 slices, for the uninitiated.
One of the judges, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell, was paired with Roodley Preval. Purcell said he could never compete in such an event.
Several of the contestants started to look a little sick as the chewing continued.
And the $1,000 first prize winner was … ”Gentleman” Joe Menchetti of Cheshire, who downed his pizza in 2 minutes, 25 seconds.
The story continues after the photo gallery:
Menchetti is a veteran of Valley eating contests. He’s won the pazcki eating contest at Eddy’s bakery in Ansonia a bunch of times.
Second place ($350 prize) went to Brandon “Feast Mode” Carr, who ate all 12 slices in 3 minutes, 37 seconds, and third place ($250 prize) went to Rich “The Inhaler” Carlson, who polished off his pizza in 5 minutes, 45 seconds.
Beacon Falls resident Dino Verrelli, Project Purple founder, kept the pace going as he walked up and down in front of the long table of eaters to egg them on.
“We got bragging rights here for the Valley,” he yelled into a microphone.
Verrelli joked around with the one female contestant, Pam Roxbury of WPLR 99.1, who he dubbed Pam ‘Parmesan’ Roxbury.
The radio station broadcasted live from the event.
Verrelli said he was pleased with the outcome and plans to hold the event next year.
“We raised close to $4,000,” Verrelli said. “Next year it will be bigger and better.”
Verrelli thanked Zois Pizza and WPLR 99.1 for their sponsorship. He also recognized Citizens Engine Company of Seymour and Beacon Hose Fire Company of Beacon Falls for their support at the event.
