For the love of bacon
Two-time reigning champion Manni Balignasay goes for his third crown at this weekend’s Bacon
Eating Contest
Look at Manni Balignasay and the thought of a two-time reigning bacon champion won’t be the first thing that comes to mind. The 30-year-old Urbandale resident and part-time personal trainer doesn’t look like one to shovel pound upon pound of bacon into his mouth for pure enjoyment. But this Saturday, Balignasay hopes to once again lick his chops and savor the moment as he looks to make a three-peat in the name of bacon during the Bacon Eating Contest at the Third Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival.
“I’ve had the luck of winning the competition two years in a row, so why not try for three?” Balignasay said. “Bacon Fest continues to attract more people each year, so I feel like I have to defend my title.”
Created in 2007 by co-organizer Brooks Reynolds, the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival has become one of Des Moines’ premiere annual events. The first two years, the festival was held at el Bait Shop and High Life Lounge. In 2010, the Bacon Board moved the festival to the Scottish Rite Consistory, which will allow for additional attendance, more bacon purveyors, live music and comprehensive bacon education. This year, officials sold out the event (600 tickets) in 25 minutes. Officials have organized “Bacon Week” as a weeklong event full of everything bacon.
“Bacon Fest is so much fun because of the ambience,” Balignasay said. “It’s about being around people that love bacon — it’s almost cult-like. You have serious bacon lovers, and the ones that just want to have fun and do something different.”
Slated for 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, the Bacon Eating Contest will begin drawing between 15 to 25 bacon eaters. Competitors place based on who can eat the most bacon in five minutes or who can finish his or her plate first.
“There’s absolutely no preparation for the event — it’s all in the moment,” said Balignasay, who has competed in other eating contests such as the two-pound burger at Trophy’s and taken advantage of various all-you-can-eat-wing specials. “You shovel it in, chew it and just get it down.”
Balignasay does offer some insight on how to feast on the bacon though.
“The bacon has to be the perfect condition — not too burnt or too soggy,” he said. “It has to melt in your mouth. And don’t let your competition psyche you out. The competitors might look big, but that doesn’t mean they can eat a lot.”
Jason Mosley, Webmaster for www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com and www.mrbaconpants.com, agrees that Balignasay has what it takes to be crowned again this year.
“To be a champion, you have to become a predator, and the bacon is your prey,” said Mosley, who plans on traveling from Pittsburgh, Penn., to attend the event. “When you watch Manni, you can tell he is in another state of mind. People are screaming, ‘Ohhh bacon,’ but the man stays focused.”
Balignasay says overcoming the raw feeling in his mouth and a sore jaw are one thing, but the competition is just an afterthought of what comes the next day.
“The hardest part is when you feel so gross the next day,” he said. “Sometimes you wish you didn’t do it.”
While some competitors may have their superstitions about the event, Balignasay says he participates because of his love for bacon.
“I don’t take it seriously at all,” he said. “I’m just out there to have fun. I mean, really, it’s a bacon-eating contest. I’m not making any promises, but I’ll give it my best shot to win again this year.” CV
caption: Manni Balignasay hopes to be crowned the Bacon Eating Contest Champion for the third year in a row. Photo courtesy of Manni Balignasay
