Max Appell ’18

It may come as a surprise to those who see me, but I am quite a big eater. Although I am nearly six feet tall and a lean 145 pounds, on a good day, I eat like Joey Chestnut, an American competitive eater. Bless my fast metabolism.
With this desire to devour, I looked around Fairfield county for any food challenges so I could test my skills.
That’s when I came across Mecha Noodle Bar located at 1215 Post Road, in Fairfield, Conn.
“Our number one priority is to continue to offer the same comfortable atmosphere, delicious cuisine and warm hospitality that we are proud to be known for,” Tony Pham, co-founder of Mecha Noodle Bar said to SONOs Hamlethub in an interview. Within that delicious cuisine, comes the Kae-Dama challenge.
In this challenge, contestants consume as many bowls of noodles as they can in 30 minutes.
“Kae-Dama is a polite way to ask for more noodles,“ Kathryn Greaves, Mecha Noodle Bar server, said. “So you say ‘Kaedama, please’ and someone will have your fresh bowl of noodles over shortly.”
In order to partake in this challenge, contestants must sign a waiver if they are over 18 or have their parents sign a waiver if they are a minor.
The record for the Kae-dama challenge is currently held by a customer who goes by “Manny the Manimal.” According to The Mecha Noodle Bar website, the record stands at 11 bowls of noodles in 18 minutes.
“It was, by far, the biggest record we have had thus far. Nothing has come close,” Greaves said.
To put 11 bowls of noodles into perspective, most people are full after a few bowls.
“I am a big fan of the pho from Mecha, but I could never finish more than two portions of noodles,” Casey Rubin ’19 said.
But now it was my time to try and break that record. As I walked in I read “slurping encouraged” written on the chalkboard. At that moment I knew exactly what needed to be done.
Going in, I had some confidence. As a fan of ramen and pho dishes, I thought I would be able to devour several bowls of noodles in the allotted 30 minutes.
When the clock started, I quickly shoved spoonfuls of noodles into my mouth. The immediate heat of the soup and noodles burned my tongue, but in order to win, I knew I had to carry on.
Sweat dripped from my forehead as I finished the first bowl. I looked over at the time and saw close to five minutes had elapsed. I rapidly cleared the initial bowl of noodles and steak and screamed, “Kae-Dama.”
As my second bowl reached me, I was officially in the zone. I finished my second bowl much quicker than my first due to a newly adapted fork twirling technique.
Then came my third bowl. That’s when the big lump of noodles in my stomach finally hit me. My eating pace slowed and though I wanted to continue the challenge, my body would not allow it. I finished my third bowl after 21 minutes and called it quits.
Though I did not win the challenge, I considered it a success. I went into the challenge ready to give it my all and that’s what I did. Not only that but I also loved the pho so it was a win either way in my books.
Other students have also attempted the challenge, but none have beaten the record.
“I was psyched up about the challenge going in,” Dylan Middlebrook ’18 said. “But 10 minutes in, I hadn’t even finished my second bowl, so I just gave up.”
It seems that “Manny the Manimal’s” record is here to stay, at least for awhile.