VICTOR HUGO QUINTUNA OF CAFFE SORRENTO IN LITTLE ITALY CAPTURES
4TH ANNUAL TUTTOROSSO PASTA EATING COMPETITION AT SORRENTO CHEESE SUMMER IN LITTLE ITALY

23 Year Old Waiter Consumes Record-Setting
4 ¼ Pounds of Pasta In Eight Minutes to Upset Reigning Champion Fabrizio Rinaldi

Pulling off a major upset, 23-year-old Victor Hugo Quintuna, a waiter at Little Italy’s popular Caffe Sorrento, ate a record-setting 4 ¼ pounds of pasta with sauce to win the 4th Annual Tuttorosso Pasta Eating Competition on Saturday afternoon, July 1, 2006, in New York City’s historic Little Italy neighborhood. The event, one of the highlights of the annual Sorrento Cheese Summer in Little Italy celebration, was held on Mulberry Street in front of Sal Anthony’s S.P.Q.R. Ristorante before an audience of nearly 1,000 spectators who braved the torrid temperatures and blazing sun to cheer on the eight competitors, all representing local restaurants and cafes.

Reigning champion Fabrizio Rinaldi, a waiter at Il Cortile, who had won all three previous competitions, finished in third place even though he downed nearly four pounds of pasta, matching last year’s winning total. “I wish Victor all the best,” a gracious Fabrizio said afterwards. “Today he was the better eater.”

Quintuna, who had never competed in an eating competition before, was enlisted to compete by Caffe Sorrento’s proud owner, Maria Silvestri, a day prior to the contest. “He is a very nice young man,” she said, “and I knew he would do well. But to be honest, I am surprised that he beat Fabrizio who is an experienced competitor and a gentleman.”

As Little Italy’s newly crowned pasta eating champion, Quintuna won a cash prize of $250 plus a handsome trophy. Immediately following the competition, he went back to work at Café Sorrento. “I honestly didn’t know how I would do in the contest, “he said. “It was very hot but I was encouraged by all the people watching. It was more fun than I expected.”

The second place finisher was another first-time competitor, Alberto Perez, a waiter at Caffe Napoli, who won a cash prize of $100. “I hope to finish in first place next year,” he announced after congratulating the winner.

Others in the competition were Joe Vaccaro (Original Vincent’s Restaurant), Augustino Capodicasa (Puglia), Anthony Pascarella (Grotta Azzurra), Paul John Sanna (Sal Anthony’s S.P.Q.R.) and Nick Galvez (Fratelli Ristorante).

The event was sponsored by Tuttorosso pasta sauces.