Article by Jerenze Christian B. Cuaki /Â Photos by Eunick Nobe
Eating competitions may be new to the Philippines; but with the growing number of record-breaking stunts (even world records!) and beastly attempts from the greatest competitive eaters, more eating competitions are born, such as Peperoni Pizzeria’s XXL Pizza Challenge.
Peperoni Pizzeria, the home of the 21″ XXL Pizza, serves not just freshly-made pizzas, but also challenges! The XXL Pizza Challenge in the Philippines is the first in the Philippine franchise of Peperoni Pizzeria after several similar events in Myanmar and Singapore, and it will be held every year. Preliminaries were first held last July until the last day of September 2017 at their Uptown Mall, BGC and U.P. Town Center branches. The only requirement was to finish their 21″ XXL Pizza in 20 minutes or less to get a chance to secure the top 12 slots and your pizza will be free.
The Grand Finale happened last October 21, 2017 at U.P. Town Center with 6 participants facing off for the coveted title as the 1st Pizza Warrior of the XXL Pizza Challenge. Various prizes were at stake, including gift certificates and, of course, bragging rights!
Friendly competition!
Most competitors in the finale were relatively experienced in the art of competitive eating, like Kelvin “Zarkman” Medina, Rix “Terabite” Francisco, and Sam “The Kraken” Abeja. They are also known for brushing off burgers and pizza in the shortest time possible.
In the final battle, Chef Baron of U.P. Town Center branch readied the special recipe created exclusively for the competition. The recipe consists of shiitake mushrooms, 3 kinds of meat (ham, pepperoni and bacon), olives, onions, bell pepper, and roasted garlic.
Actually, warriors put love in their pizza. 🙂
Warriors are known to have advantageous strategies like in real life. With their nerve-wracking, eye-popping #BEASTMODE speed eating skills, eating a huge 21″ pizza fast has never been this possible. Could you believe that almost all competitors finished in less than 10 minutes?
The coveted 1st Pizza Warrior title (1st Place) was given to Rix “Terabite” Francisco in the time of 3 minutes and 38 seconds. Fast, huh?
Rawwrrrrr!!!
The second and third placers were snatched by Sam “The Kraken” Abeja and Justin Cardano, in the time of 5 minutes and 14 seconds and 6 minutes and 9 seconds respectively.
After its maiden competition here in the Philippines, another one is happening next year! If you love chomping HUGE pizzas fast, maybe you could be the next Pizza Warrior?
Peperoni Pizzeria Philippines
3/F, Uptown Mall, 36th St. cor. 9th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
G/F, Phase 2, U.P. Town Center, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City
Website:Â https://www.peperoni.com.ph/
Facebook:Â https://www.facebook.com/peperoniph
Instagram:Â @peperoniph
