Tuttorosso Pasta Eating Competition

The annual Little Italy Tuttorosso Pasta Eating Competition began in 2003. It isn’t as popular (yet) as Nathan’s hot dog eating competition a few days later in July, but pasta is probably easier to digest.
 
 
 
 
http://www.littleitalynyconline.org/news-pasta.php
4TH ANNUAL TUTTOROSSO PASTA EATING COMPETITION TO BE HELD ON
SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2006, AT 2 PM
AS PART OF SORRENTO CHEESE SUMMER IN LITTLE ITALY
 
For the fourth consecutive July 4th Weekend, employees from Little Italy’s popular restaurants and cafes will bring their appetites to the competition table to claim the bragging rights as the historic neighborhood’s pasta eating champion. The Great Pasta Eat-Off, better known as the 4th Annual Tuttorosso Pasta Eating Competition, will take place on Saturday, July 1, at 2:00 PM as part of the Sorrento Cheese Summer in Little Italy activities. A total of six to eight “big eaters” will roll up their sleeves while sitting side-by-side on the competition stage in front of Sal Anthony’s S.P.Q.R. Ristorante on Mulberry Street, between Hester and Grand Streets.

Fabrizio Rinaldi, a waiter at Il Cortile Ristorante who has won the championship for the past three years, will be back to defend his title and try for a “four-peat.” Competitors from eight to ten area restaurants and cafes will try to out-eat the Queens resident during the six-minute competition. To do so, they will have to be in “top eating form” to win the trophy and the $250 cash prize. Last year, Fabrizio downed three-and-half pounds of cooked pasta with Tuttorosso sauce to win over eight opponents. It is expected that competitors from S.P.Q.R., Umberto’s Clam House, Original Vincent’s, La Mela, Grotta Azzurra, Puglia, Fratelli, and Caffe Napoli will bring their appetites to the competition table this year.

Admission is free. Seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.