Gorging Myself on ... Well, Gorging!

 Hi. I’m Patty.

This is the point at which, in a support group, other attendants would respond, “Hi Patty!” and welcome me aboard.

I’ll assume the courtesy and offer a "Back atcha, my Peeps."

Any who, at the risk of revealing yet another aspect comprising my wealth of shortcomings, I must admit that I have succumbed to a new addiction as of late.

Now, before anyone feels the need to intervene with a plethora of therapeutic treatment suggestions, allow me to reveal the source of my current compulsion: crazy culinary consumptions.

You know, competitive eating challenges. I find myself borderline obsessed with watching them via various social media channels.

And while such voyeurism is not necessarily an advantageous or marketable trait, thankfully, I don’t seem to be alone in this quagmire of mine.

Somehow, this practice has become an international phenomenon. Literally.

Millions of people the world over are subscribing to platforms which highlight the sport (yes, even ESPN recognizes it as such) of wolfing down insanely massive amounts of food, often within a comparatively tiny time window.

Case in point, the sports channel giant annually covers the Coney Island, NY-based “Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Challenge” each Independence Day. Participants are allotted 10 minutes within which to shovel down as many frankfurters as they are physically able.

Yikes.

Either way, according to the online news source entitled “The Sports Reviewer” competitive eating is a legitimate category therein.

The outlet maintains that the pastime is “a unique sport where participants challenge each other to consume large quantities of food in a short time, testing speed and capacity.”

Gulp…literally.

It is interesting to note that competitive eating as a form of entertainment/competition is a lavish, time-honored tradition dating back to ancient times.

“The Sports Reviewer” maintains that the practice of consuming large quantities of food in a competitive manner was common among primeval civilizations and cultures around the world. Who knew?

One of the earliest recorded examples of such competitive eating occurred in ancient Greece.

The Greek people, known for their love of feasting and festivities, began organizing food competitions eons ago as part of social gatherings. These events often took place during religious or seasonal festivals and encouraged participants to consume copious amounts of food in a competitive setting.

As a Catholic trying to observe sacrificial fasting and abstention during the current Lenten season, I do find that a bit counterintuitive presently.

Then again, perhaps I’m living vicariously through these nom nom monsters? Hmm.

Regardless, while they aren’t currently ranked among the world’s elite in terms of professionally ferocious feeders, I am hooked on the videos created and shared by Nashville residents Katina DeJarnett and her fiancé Randy Santel.

I don’t know what it is about these two that makes them so lovably adorable to watch as they scarf down dozens of burgers, hundreds of chicken wings, piles of pan-sized pancakes, tons of tacos, oceans’ worth of seafood and – well, you get the idea.

We are talking tons ‘o grub, a’ight?

DeJarnett’s stage name (for lack of a better term) is “Katina Eats Kilos” while her hubby-to-be Santel has dubbed himself “Atlas.” Unless they are flying-under-the-radar actors, they both seem to be genuinely kind, polite, and giving people who often pay it forward by partaking in challenges benefitting charitable organizations and other worthy causes such as veteran homelessness.

I can’t help myself. They’re my faves and I love them. I watch the duo like clockwork and even find myself getting anxious as their time deadlines approach and they aren’t near completion.

It’s almost as stressful as watching my beloved Buffalo Bills in a nail-biter that comes down to the last few plays at the end of the fourth quarter in a tight gridiron matchup, Capsice?

Okay, I might be a little more invested in Josh Allen and company. So, sue me. Wink.

All I know is, while I continue to pray for harmony and goodwill toward all in a world full of chaos and turmoil, sometimes it’s kind of nice to escape from reality for a bit of fantastical foodie fun.

Just my two cents, y'all --- while pennies are still in circulation, anyway. Hee!
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Happy Wednesday, everyone and as Katina always says at the end of her videos, “Okay, peace out. Bye!”

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