After devouring a few pounds of chicken wings on Tuesday night – as a way of a practice round – Jeff LaBelle planned to go a little easy on his food intake Wednesday to help prepare him for tonight’s eating fest.
The 39-year-old Maple Ridge millwright is one of 13 finalists in a provincial eating contest unfolding tonight in Port Moody.
He’s pretty optimistic he can emerge triumphant, the challenge being to eat two pounds of hot wings in the fastest time.
LaBelle has never participated in an eating contest before, and honestly never gave it a thought.
But a few weeks back, unbeknownst to LaBelle, his wife Crystal signed him up for just such a contest at the Wings restaurant in Langley.
At first, he thought it was a joke. But he soon learned it wasn’t, when staff from the eatery called to review details for the local competition.
Facing off against a dozen other contestants, LaBelle rolled up his sleeves and tested his appetite and heat tolerance in the local qualifying rounds last month. He devoured the plate full of hot wings in three minutes and 33 seconds.
LaBelle didn’t immediately know he’d won, throwing down the last bone on his plate and raising his goopy hands up into the air. It was more the reaction from his wife, her family, and his parents in the audience that tipped him off that he was victorious.
Eating two pounds of wing isn’t a big deal for LaBelle, who says he and his wife usually enjoy wings once or twice a month.
“I can eat two pounds of wings pretty easily,” he said, admitting he’s a fan of the buffalo flavoured, like those served up during the competitions.
Still, LaBelle had no idea how he’d do eating against the clock.
“I was just face to the plate, eating as fast as I could,” LaBelle recounted, not honestly expecting to win.
“That was the first time I’ve done anything like that. It was fun,” he said.
Winning that challenge, the local champion received a $125 Wings gift certificate, free wings for a year, and a spot on the local Wings hall of fame. Admittedly, he was stoked.
That victory also earned him some serious jeering by his coworkers, the new nickname “Lord of the Wings,” and a chance to move onto the provincial finals Thursday at the Wings restaurant in Port Moody.
If he wins tonight, he takes home a $500 cash prize, a trophy, and more bragging rights.
LaBelle said “when he wins” his plan is to treat his wife to a weekend at the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel – since it was all her idea in the first place.
In tonight’s finals, he’s going up against contestants from Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, and Port Moody, as well as Tsawwassen, Richmond, Kelowna, Penticton, and Quesnel.
“My family will be there cheering me on. It’s all fun and games. I’ll just do my best.”
After a six-year hiatus, Wings restaurant returned with the eating contest to mark the restaurant’s 25th anniversary.
“We are incredibly excited to bring back this fan-favourite event for our 25th anniversary celebration,” said Jennifer Harrison, Wings marketing brand director.
“This contest not only celebrates a huge milestone for us, but also celebrates our community, team and legendary wings. We can’t wait to see who will rise to the challenge and take home the championship title!”