Elwood Fire Rescue: Fire Rescue News - Firefighters compete in breakfast-eating challenge to help Atlantic City colleagues

ATLANTIC CITY - Firefighter Jim McDevitt is tall and slim, and certainly doesn't fit the image of a guy who can put away a lot of food in a little time.

But he scarfed down four pounds of traditional breakfast fare in just 21 minutes Saturday afternoon, beating a field of eight other men and one woman in a challenge to raise money for...Continue Reading

McDevitt used his fingers to push the last few strips of bacon into his mouth, took a gulp of water and shoveled in the last forkful of eggs as a crowd of about 100 people cheered him on. Then he daintily wiped his mouth.

The competition was held at Teplitzky's restaurant in the Chelsea Hotel, a favorite hangout for Atlantic City firefighters, and spectators donated money to sample appetizers and watch the contestants cram huge portions of food into their faces at alarming speeds.

For his accomplishment, McDevitt won an overnight stay and dinner for two at the Chelsea. The same prize was also awarded to firefighter Anthony Carfagno, who finished the monstrous meal about a minute later.

Retired firefighter Thomas McMeekin Sr., one of the beneficiaries of the firefighter-versus-food challenge, parked his wheelchair at the edge of the table and cheered the contestants on.

"It's just amazing how they always come together for us," said McMeekin, who was seriously injured in a 1996 motor-vehicle accident and whose police officer son, Thomas Jr., was killed in the line of duty in 2005. Another son, Andrew, is also a firefighter.

McMeekin said the money will help pay medical expenses not covered by insurance, "and there are plenty of them."

The event raised about $5,000 for McMeekin and for the family of retired firefighter Sam Horton, whose daughter Shaina Horton was diagnosed with a rare uterine cancer while pregnant with her first child, said union President Angelo DeMaio.

The cancer spread to other parts of his daughter's body, and "numerous times we were called to the hospital and told she wouldn't make it," Sam Horton said. But Shaina Horton was recently moved to a rehabilitation hospital and seems to be making progress.

The baby, Zoe Palermo, is doing well and being cared for by family, Horton said.

He learned about the event two weeks ago, after firefighters found out that his family was in bad financial straits paying medical expenses and for travel to and from Cooper University Hospital in Camden to visit his daughter, Horton said.

"It's more heartfelt. It's very humbling to me," said Horton, who retired after 28 years in the Fire Department. "One of the hardest things for a parent to do is ask for help ... and they did it without asking."

The monstrous breakfast, which costs $20, was added to Teplitzky's menu a few weeks ago, said Thomas von Muenster, executive chef and assistant general manager at the Chelsea.

Restaurant patrons would order breakfast and then decide to sample other items, so "we decided to put it all on one plate," von Munester said.

Anyone who can finish the four pounds of food in 15 minutes gets the meal for free and his or her name engraved on a plaque.

"It's a lot, it's a challenge, but we want it to be achievable," von Muenster said.

After Saturday's event, he may increase the time limit to complete the challenge, von Muenster said.

"Fifteen minutes? That's crazy!" firefighter Anne Gramlich said when she learned of the rules. But she wasn't too relieved to learn she had a full half hour to finish the food.

"There was no chance I was going to do it," said Gramlich, the only woman in the contest. "But I've got to give back, I've got to support the team."

A long table was set with flatware, napkins, ketchup, butter and glasses of water as the 10 firefighters, including one from Ventnor, took their seats.

"The food is out, and wait until you see your plate," Chelsea publicist Lisa Johnson said over the public-address system. "Are you ready to eat a four-pound breakfast?"

Servers brought out plates, about a foot square, piled high with pancakes, turkey sausage, bacon, pork roll, eggs, stuffed French toast and hash browns.

Twenty-one minutes later, only McDevitt and Carfagno were able to finish the feast. Several polished off most of the platter, but a few barely made a dent in it.

McDevitt said his strategy was to eat the pancakes and French toast first, because "I didn't want to save that until last."

It will probably be Sunday before he wants to eat again, "and I won't want it to be breakfast," McDevitt said.

Carfagno said he decided to eat the meat first and then "basically take your time and just shove it in."

But he said the food was very good and "the hash browns were outstanding." He plans to come back and eat it again.

"I didn't believe I'm even in it," let alone finished the entire meal, Carfagno said.

Atlantic City firefighter Jim McDevitt finishes first in Saturday's breakfast-eating challenge to raise money for retired firefighters Thomas McMeekin Sr. and Sam Horton.

Atlantic City firefighter Anne Granlich digs in at the Chelsea Hotel in Atlantic City Saturday.

Fire Rescue News - Firefighters compete in breakfast-eating challenge to help Atlantic City colleagues

Saturday, April 09 2011 @ 08:14 pm EDT