It’s paczki time again.
Eddy’s Bake Shop on Main Street in Ansonia will host its 13th annual paczki-eating contest at 8 a.m. March 8.
The Valley Indy’s own Tony Spinelli will compete in the competition, where people stuff their faces with jelly-filled Polish doughnuts for fun, name recognition, and a $200 cash prize.
The contest is held each year on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.
The Polish doughnut is traditionally made before Lent each year, as a way to use up fat, eggs, and dairy products before fasting and abstinence during the religious season.
For the past several years, “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti of Wallingford has won the contest. Click here to see photos and video from the 2010 event.
Last year he ate 10 paczki in five minutes.
Other participants last year included Marcus Bartone of Derby, who ate seven paczki in five minutes. Bartone participated in the event as a kick-off to fundraising for Neuroblastoma, a rare cancer his daughter, Sydney, died of four years ago.
As of Thursday, there were eight people signed up for the contest.
Spinelli said he thinks he can finish at least two doughnuts.
“I think I can reasonably eat two and a half in five minutes,” said Spinelli, who has never participated in a competitive eating event before.
