ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown Fair is looking for people who either are really, really hungry, or who have iron stomachs.
Because the fair announced Monday that it will hold an eating contest for what many consider among the least appetizing food: scrapple.
In what it calls "a gastronomic spectacle," the fair will have its first Scrapple Eating Contest at 3 p.m. Aug. 31 in the fairground's Farmerama Theater.Allentown Fair news release
In what it calls "a gastronomic spectacle," the fair will have its first Scrapple Eating Contest at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, in the fairground's Farmerama Theater.
Allentown Fair will run Aug. 28-Sept. 2.
Scrapple is a traditional mush of pork trimmings and scraps — head, heart, liver and other trimmings — which are boiled, often with the entire head, to make a meaty broth that is mixed with cornmeal and flour and formed into a loaf.
It's considered an ethnic food of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish.
Stoltzfus Meats says on its website that scrapple is "a nutrient-dense breakfast food that is surprisingly healthy when enjoyed in moderation." It's high in proteins, and contains no trans fat and is gluten-free.
'Hearty appetites, strong intestinal fortitude'
The Scrapple Eating Contest, sponsored by Stoltzfus Meats, will challenge competitors to eat as much scrapple as possible in two minutes.
The fair's announcement said that any “upchucking” will result in disqualification from the contest.
"Men and women with hearty appetites and strong intestinal fortitude must register, as space is limited," the fair said in a release. There is no fee to enter.
"Let’s celebrate the Pennsylvania Dutch around the Lehigh Valley with a special event highlighting the 'meatloaf' of breakfast, scrapple!"Allentown Fair news release
There was no word whether the winner would get the right to never have to eat scrapple again.
But formal prizes would be a first-place reward of $200 plus a Stoltzfus Gift Bag of Goodies valued at $95.
Second place will get $100 plus a Stoltzfus Gift Bag of Goodies valued at $75.
And third place will get $50 plus a $55 Stoltzfus gift certificate.
Registration forms and additional information can be found on the Fair’s website — Allentown Fair — Contests.
"So let’s celebrate the Pennsylvania Dutch around the Lehigh Valley with a special event highlighting the 'meatloaf' of breakfast, scrapple!" the fair's release said.
The fair said the Scrapple Eating Contest is expected to become an annual event. Presuming, of course, the fair can find enough people willing to eat a lot of scrapple.
