After our spicy eating challenge failures at Pearl Cafe and Market Pub House, Gut Check was beginning to worry we weren't cut out for competitive eating.
And then we found a challenge that was made for us: a frozen custard-eating contest.
On Saturday afternoon, we signed up for the frozen custard-eating contest at Eugene's Custard Company (1138 Town and Country Crossing Drive, Town & Country; 636-227-7300) ready to win. We're St. Louisans. We know frozen custard. And with highs in the 90s and 100s, we've been looking to chill out; it just so happens that our favorite way to cool down is pigging out on frozen treats.
The challenge was much simpler than previous ones: All the contestants had to do was eat twenty ounces of vanilla frozen custard and whipped cream as quickly as possible. First-, second- and third-place winners take home gift certificates for more frozen custard -- just the prize you want after inhaling 1,000 calories worth of thick, frozen dairy product.
Gut Check's scribe entered the adult bracket, and after watching five kiddos compete in the children's challenge (they only had to eat sixteen ounces), she took her place at the booth with three other contestants.
Tearing through the whipped cream was easy for our writer, but once she started in on the frozen custard, the challenge got real. Although she didn't experience a brain freeze, the cold custard sent sharp pains throughout her jaw, but the pain didn't stop her. She didn't want to lose yet another challenge.
After burning through half of the custard, she tipped the cup toward her mouth, and shoveled the rest in like a champ. Cheering her name, Eugene's patrons watched as she annihilated the dish in just over three minutes and won $30 worth of frozen custard.
And so it seems Gut Check has found our eating-challenge niche. We stand no chance against the spicy, but give us a fatty frozen dessert, and we'll take home the prize. Finally, victory is ours.
