Seriously, when did “it’s only a three hour drive” enter my vocabulary?
Saturday morning I hopped into my car and took off to Bettendorf, Iowa. It’s about a three hour drive from Chicago to the Quad cities but considering I drove over 3,000 miles on my last road trip it really was nothing.
And what would I drive three hours on a Saturday morning to get to? A Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich contest of course!
I got to the Isle of Capri about an hour before the eating contest was to begin…and there was already a big crowd! I found a good aisle spot knowing full well I’d dash up front to get photos once the contest began.
There was some pre-show entertainment from Badlands Booker, some cheerleaders, a step team, and a name that tune trivia contest that made me feel old and sad when the girl had no clue what the Saved By The Bell theme song was.
Finally the competitors were announced and soon after, the contest began! Everyone dug into their loose meat sandwiches. There was one thing for certain with these deconstructed burgers: there was no way anyone could eat one without making a mess.
As the ten-minute contest drew to a close it looked like a tight race. In the end Pat Bertoletti took home the championship of the day and of the Isle of Capri circuit.
Afterwards, they handed out the leftover sandwiches to the hungry crowd and I got my first taste of loose meat before hitting the road back home for another 3 hour drive.
On the way I stopped for a milkshake and cheese curds as all I’d eaten so far was that sandwich and I was a little hungry. And as I was finishing eating who should walk in but Badlands, Deep Dish, and Gravy! Man, you eat fifteen plus sandwiches and you’re still hungry?
Photos from the Capri Casino Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich eating contest in Bettendorf, Iowa:
For the love of beef: loose meat sandwich eating contest. Capri Casino Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich eating contest in Bettendorf, Iowa.
Bucket List Idea: Watch an Eating Contest. For the love of beef: loose meat sandwich eating contest. Capri Casino Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich eating contest in Bettendorf, Iowa.
Hi, I'm Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the kitten. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and traveled for three years. Now I'm back in Chicago, decorating my apartment in all the teal, petting my cats, and planning my next adventure.
Jaime D.
November 8, 2010at4:03 pmOMG these pictures are EPIC!!! I have always wanted to enter a food eating contest. It would have to be burgers I LOVE BURGERS~
Val
November 9, 2010at9:40 amOh you should do one sometime! There were plenty of contests in Texas this past summer!