Michelle Basch, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Ever dreamed of eating a big pile of tacos all in one sitting?
On Monday evening, seven brave men attempted something much more difficult.
They stuffed their faces with as many tacos as possible, in just 15 minutes.
“It’s really tough. I’ve seen some big guys try this contest and not (get) even close,” says Marc Wallace. “They get to eight and they’re tapping out, sweating and practically crying.”
Wallace is co-owner of District Taco, which has two brick-and-mortar locations in the D.C. area as well as two food trucks.
Wallace and his business partner, Osiris Hoil, are planning to open a third location soon, likely in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
They’re also interested in expanding beyond the D.C. area to other parts of the Mid-Atlantic throughout the next five years.
When District Taco held an eating contest at its Arlington restaurant last year, the winner ate an amazing fifteen tacos in fifteen minutes.
Monday’s contest was held at District Taco’s new D.C. Restaurant, which opened about six weeks ago on F St. NW near Metro Center.
Contestants had to sign a waiver before being served baskets of four tacos at a time. Each basket contained a chicken taco, a pork taco, a steak taco and a breakfast taco.
Wallace says the breakfast taco trips many competitors up because it contains a heavy mix of eggs, cheese, chorizo and potatoes.
Monday night, James Cargo ate fifteen tacos and kept them down long enough to be declared the D.C. winner.
“I was pretty worried starting with about five minutes to go, and I think I still had five left to finish,” says Cargo.
He promises to try again to break the record, after his stomach settles.
“Right now, that sounds horrible but I will regroup and come back,” Cargo says.
Cargo took home a $100 District Taco gift certificate as well as a T-shirt and hat, and the food was on the house.
Anyone can try the 15 minute taco challenge at any District Taco at anytime. Challengers just pay $40 for the food, and if the record is beaten the money will be refunded and the champion’s photo put up on the wall.
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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
