The 24-year-old ate a dozen of the Polish doughnuts in five minutes during the 18th annual eating contest at Eddy’s Bake Shop in Ansonia.
Carr was approaching the contest record — 13 and a half paczkis — when Mayor David Cassetti called time.
Paczkis (pronounced PUNCH-key) are very large doughnuts, essentially, with different fillings. They weigh about a quarter-pound apiece.
A total of eight contestants bellied up to the table Tuesday morning for the contest, which bakery owner Paul Ciocca started after reading about the annual tradition of Polish-Americans making paczkis for Fat Tuesday.
But within moments it became a three-way race between the defending champion, Manny “The Manimal” Cambra, of Bethel, Carr, who was making his first attempt at taking the Eddy’s packzki crown, and another contestant from Torrington.
Click the play button on the video above to see highlights.
As time wore on, it became clear that Carr would edge out his competitors.
By the end of the contest, even Cambra was rooting Carr on to tie or beat the contest record.
A happy, if full, Carr said after the win that he’s competed in one other eating competition — a second place finish at a pizza eating contest at Zoi’s Pizza Palace in Seymour.
He said the winner of that event — “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti, a Wallingford resident who dominated the Eddy’s contest for years but has not competed since 2013 — recommended he try his luck on Fat Tuesday in Ansonia.
Carr won a $150 cash prize for his win Tuesday.
Click here to visit Eddy’s Bake Shop on Facebook.
