I am the Pasta King

Across the bridge from the Radisson, in the same building as Cosmos Cheesesteaks, there lies a family-owned, Italian restaurant that is home to one of the most rewarding eating challenges in the Scranton area. I speak of La Trattoria and their “Pasta King” challenge.

I was originally attracted to their weekday special. From 11am-1:30, La Trattoria features “Mangia Mangia,” an all-you-can-eat array of soup, salad, soda, pasta, five different entrees like penne and vodka sauce and eggplant parmesan, and dessert for under $10. The soup and salad alone is just $6. However, I learned that they feature an eating challenge that only a handful have accomplished, and hundreds have failed.

The Challenge: Consume 2lbs of pasta. (keep in mind that the pasta is weighed before it is cooked and sauced) You can choose whatever sauce you want, you can choose whatever type of pasta you want. You don’t have to eat the salad, bread, or meatballs that come with it. No time limit.

The Prize: 1 free entrée every month for a year.

I had the afternoon free, and it was already 1:00, and I was starving. I ordered the challenge, and the waitress was both surprised and excited, she has never done this before. I speak with Mike, the owner and manager, about the history of the restaurant, how he came up with the challenge (it came to him in a dream, no joke), the odds, etc. Before I know it, I have this sitting in front of me.

I’m glad I went with the in-house made tomato sauce, as vodka sauce would be too heavy with all the dairy, and any cream sauce would be impossible. I also went with penne, I choice I somewhat regret. I ended up having to eat it with a spoon and was able to swallow a noodle or two without chewing. However, the tubes most likely stacked up in my stomach rather than compacting.

The key to most eating challenges is speed and variety. After 20 minutes, you hit “the wall.” Your stomach tells your brain you’re full and continuing to eat stops sounding like a good idea. Also, when eating so much of the same food, the taste and texture gets boring and repetitive. It is both physically and mentally harder and harder to eat. What made it even harder was that the pasta was hand-made and freshly boiled, so it was both substantial and really hot!

As you can imagine, I attracted the attention of some of the other customers, every one of which cheered me on and told me I could make it. One of the waiters decided he was going to give it a shot and got his own bowl to join me. As I passed the halfway mark, I needed something to cleanse my palate, so I asked for some extra lemon wedges for my water. The sourness and acidity helped cut the taste of the sauce and allowed me to continue.

Have you ever gone for a run, took a little break, and when you started up again your legs felt like jello and you wish you hadn’t stopped in the first place? I encountered this effect, as any break from eating only made its continuation that much more difficult. However, in spite of my red face, bloated guy, and sauce stained maw, I continued on, spoonful after spoonful, carefully ensuring I could keep it all down. As the bowl emptied, I announced my last bite to a cheering audience and, like so many before it, stuffed it in my mouth.

It was odd when, the eating complete, the bowl removed, I felt so much better than a minute earlier. With my picture was taken (not my most photogenic I assure you) and my certificate awarded, I waddled into out of the restaurant. Contrary to what you may think, rather than a long nap, I craved a long walk, as sitting had to appeal to me.

I don’t think I can accurately rate La Trattoria based off of that particular dining experience, so I will do it further justice once I regain my appetite and redeem my free meals. While I am happy with my accomplishment, I must admit, there are certain times when even I have no desire for 1 more bite. J