Showboat’s Fat Tuesday King Cake Eating Contest

PATRICK " DEEP DISH" BERTOLETTI REIGNS SUPREME WITH 12 KING CAKES IN 2013 DEBUT!

After the King Cakes were eaten, the numbers tallied, the winners announced, the losers pitied, one truth rang loud: Bertoletti means business in 2013. Three days after his rival Chestnut claimed victory in the MLE 2013 season opener in the chili discipline, Bertoletti countered the only way a champion does: By eating a lot, 12 King Cakes to be more precise, for the W. Two events and only two MLE eaters are 1-0. There's a reason why they are the #1 and #2-ranked eaters in the world.

The Showboat Atlantic City saw a powerhouse display of eating by some of MLE's leading lights; this comes as no surprise because in short time the Showboat Atlantic City King Cake event has cemented itself as a premier date on the MLE calendar. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas could not catch Bertoletti, his trademark red smirk taunting the Black Widow with every bite. She ate 10.5. BOB ate 10 to round out the medal positions.

The four-way tie for fourth—Yasir, Badlands, Flash and Marcos Owens, all with 6.5—was the subject of much bloviating by the esophascenti following the contest. Is Marcos Owens back for good? Has Yasir improved that much? Can we hear Badlands rap some more? And, is Sean Gordon really a huge dubstep fan, or is someone making that up because he doesn't strike me as a dubstep fan, but what would I know?

Juan More Bite was as handsome as ever, Larell Marie Mele reminded all why she is so beloved, CLC represented, Wild Bill did his thing and a gentleman called Mr Nagengast ate 2.5 King Cakes.

So, that's a wrap. Bertoletti. Champ again. Defending his title against the cream of our sport. Because that's what champions do.

Final Standings

1) Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti with 12 King Cakes 2) Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas with 10.5. 3) "The Notorious BOB" Bob Shoudt with 10 4) Yasir "The Doggybag" Salem 6.5 4) Eric "Badlands" Booker 6.5 4) Sean "Flash" Gordon 6.5 4) Marcos Owens 6.5 8) Juan "More Bite" Rodriguez 6 9) Crazy Legs Conti 5 9) Larell Marie "The Real Deal" Mele 5 11) "Wild" Bill Myers 4 12) The Eater Nagengast, 2.5 13) Ms Shanae White, 0.5

Please note: This contest was restricted to participants aged 21 and over.

This contest took place at 2:30pm Eastern on TUESDAY February 12, 2013 at The House of Blues Party Pit at Showboat Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ—801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ!

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*All applicants must be 21 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.