Competitive eating is on the menu Saturday at Silver Slipper
Twelve competitive eaters will vie for their share of $5,000 as they feast on Natchitoches meat pies in the first Silver Slipper World Meat Pie-Eating Championship at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The contest was created in memory of the late Boyd "Bayou Boyd" Bulot, the Bay St. Louis resident who set a standing world record for eating 16, 6-ounce Natchitoches meat pies in 10 minutes.
There's an age-old saying: "Eat to live, don't live to eat." For Saturday's competition, that adage is out the window, with some of the participants being ranked champions who supplement their income through competitive eating.
One of those is Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, the No. 2-ranked Major League Eating participant. Chestnut's biggest claim to fame is holding the world record in the nationally televised Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chestnut's record is 69 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Competitive eating is more widespread than the average American might realize. Restaurants such as Waffle House and Krystal hold national competitions. Chestnut set an estimated 40 records eating such foods as grilled cheese, deep-fried asparagus, Matzo balls and boiled eggs.
Speaking recently to the Sun Herald from his home in San Jose, Calif., Chestnut said he felt confident he could break the meat pie-eating record Saturday.
His nationally ranked competition will include Adrian "The Rabbit" Morgan (No. 5), Gideon Oji (No. 12), Rich LeFevre (No. 14), Crazy Legs Conti (No. 21) and Nate Biller (No. 22). The competition will be limited to 10 minutes.
The event starts at 11 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. The competition will begin at 2 p.m. Also featured will be music by Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Seating is limited and bringing folding chairs is recommended. The free event is limited to ages 21 and older.
This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Competitive eating is on the menu Saturday at Silver Slipper ."