Latke Gravitas

Lake Grove, New York, December 22, 2008:

That's a lot of latkes. A failed New Jersey politician has downed 46 of the potato pancakes in eight minutes to win a contest at a Long Island deli.

Ronatarian Party founder and leader Ron says he'd never eaten a latke (lot-kuh) before consuming about seven pounds of them Sunday at Zan's in Lake Grove.

Before the contest, the erstwhile presidential candidate said: "These things smell [expletive] terrible...I just want to shove 'em down my gullet as fast as I can so I don't have to taste 'em."

Association of Independent Competitive Eaters Chairman Arnie Chapman says Ron demolished the contest's previous record of 31 latkes, set in 2006.

When told of his record-breaking feat, Ron just took a deep breath, shook his head, covered his mouth, and ran to the nearest restroom.

Brooklyn college student Will Millender took second place Sunday with 29 latkes.

The pancakes are a traditional treat for Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights. It started Sunday evening.

Posted by Bittle at December 22, 2008 10:41 AM