FLUSHING, MI - Out of the dozen contestants at the paczki eating contest on Fat Tuesday at Bueche’s Food World in Flushing, one man stood out like a sore thumb over his competitors.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 300 pounds, Bob Love Jr. chowed down five paczki (and one bite) in three minutes, defeating last year’s winner Austin Brooks by one bite.
“I had no prep, I just showed up,” Love Jr. said, his final bite being a Bavarian cream filled paczki. “I only had a protein shake this morning.”
It was the first time Love Jr. competed in the contest, edging Brooks, who ate five paczki.
Last year, Brooks won the competition eating four paczki.
“I just wanted to do better than last year,” Brooks said.
The eating contest held by the Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce drew a crowd of about 30 spectators inside the longstanding grocery store off Main Street.
Each competitor was given six paczki to eat within three minutes, but plenty of paczki remained on the table.
Love Jr. is a former offensive lineman at Northwood University in Midland, who earned Honorable Mention All-Conference in the Flint Metro League while playing for Clio in Genesee County. He represented Bob Love State Farm Insurance.
Clio resident Bob Love Jr. chows down as one of a dozen men competing in a paczki eating contest in celebration of Fat Tuesday on Feb. 21, 2023 at Bueche’s Food World, a local grocery story in Flushing. (Jake May | MLive.com)
“I was in the office saying ‘I don’t even think I’m going to try to win’ but then I got here and people were trash talking,” he said. “And I’m a competitor, so I had to win.”
Brooks, a 16-year-old volunteer representing the Genesee County Humane Society, had not eat anything since 10 p.m. Monday night, and he also has experience competing in a Coney dog contest last year.
He prepped by eating about seven pizza tacos.
“I feel like I want to puke, but it’s all about everyone coming out today and supporting us,” Brooks said.
The first time was a charm for Love Jr., and don’t be surprised to see him again next year to defend his crown.
“We will see if I come back again,” he said.
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At 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, former lineman takes crown at Michigan paczki eating contest - MLive.com
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