Boston Bacon Lovers Compete For Greasy Glory

[soundslide]http://www.wbur.org/files/soundslides/2010/wbur_0319_bacon-contest[/soundslide]

If you're heading out to brunch this weekend, maybe you'll have a few rashers of bacon on the side. How about 50 slices?

Sounds excessive, but 10 hungry contestants recently tried to down a whole pound of bacon each, in just five minutes, at the Fourth Annual Bacon Eating Contest at Atwood's Tavern in Cambridge.

Patrick McGee, the owner of Atwood's, said bacon-eating just makes sense as a competitive sport.  Everyone loves bacon. "It's just delicious," he said. "It's kind of the gateway meat. It's the meat that gets vegetarians back from being vegetarians."

One of three female contestants, Venus "The Foodtrap" Chan, had been training ahead of the event. "I think the hardest part is going to be chewing," she said. "So I've been chewing gum all week to work out my jaw."

Chan is applying to medical school. She wants to become a gastrointestinal surgeon.

Others came for the show. The Morrison family traveled to Atwood's from Charlestown. "We're here because we have a feeling that bacon eating could be an Olympic event in the 2016 Games," the father said. "And the boys here wants to get  a look at the competition and start training."

And Dan "The Horse" Del Rossi was there for one reason and one reason only. "I'm here to destroy some bacon," he said. "It's going to be amazing."

Turns out he was right. No one could finish the whole pound of bacon, but Del Rossi managed to put down 10 ounces for the win.