By: Anthony Rifilato
Don "Moses" Lerman, of Levittown, has a cast-iron stomach seemingly impervious to nausea. As the 2000 champ in Ben's Charity Matzo Ball Eating Contest and other nationwide competitions, Lerman has a technique which, as a professional food eater, has allowed him to devour seven-and-a-half sticks of butter in five minutes, 11 1/2 hamburgers in 10 minutes, and 120 jalapeno peppers in 15 minutes, which earned him the jalapeno championship title in 2002.
"I drink a gallon of water every day," said Lerman, who pointed to his "cardiac sphynx," the point in his stomach which he calls the "epicenter of nausea."
"Drinking water strengthens the muscle," he said. "There's nothing I won't eat."
Last week, Lerman put his technique to good use as one of 11 competitors in Baldwin at Ben's 2004 Charity Matzo Ball Eating Contest. The contestants squared off to try and eat as many matzo balls as they could in two minutes and 50 seconds, with the winner moving on to the finals at Ben's Manhattan on Jan. 27.
The seventh annual contest has become a tradition at Ben's, and the $25 entry fees and other donations go to the Interfaith Nutrition Network. At the Baldwin location, the event raised over $370.
"We expect to raise over $15,000 this year," said owner Ronald Dragoon. "It's gaining wide recognition. People are much more aware."
This year the event attracted fewer contestants than the previous year, which some attributed to the brisk weather. However, in addition to naming the first Ben's qualifier -- there are five qualifiers from different regions in the area -- there was a twist this year, with additional amateur categories such as the grandma and grandpa category, the college student category and the teacher category, among others.
"There are more opportunities to get involved," said emcee Bob David. "We want to give them [amateurs] a chance to win something."
Whoever ate the most matzos in those categories received free New York Dragons football tickets and a $15 Ben's gift certificate.
For David Pecoraro, a Queens resident and teacher at Beach Channel High School in Rockaway, it was his love for both the Dragons and matzo that drew him to Baldwin. Though Pecoraro, the only teacher to compete, managed to eat 7 1/4 matzo balls, he trailed a bit behind the competition, though still walked away with his tickets.
Still, after the signal to stop eating rang, Pecoraro took his dish to another booth and continued to eat, albeit at a more leisurely pace.
"I just like the matzo balls and the Dragons," he said. "It's fun and it's for charity."
Those were the sentiments of Nassau County legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin), who last year managed to eat 1 1/2 matzo balls.
"I'm going to try and break my record," Scannell joked. He ultimately put away 2 1/4 matzo balls.
For the pros, however, the event was a chance to display their formidable eating prowess. "Gentleman" Joe Menchetti, a Connecticut resident and pro who has eaten 41 hot dogs in 10 minutes and came in third place at last year's Ben's finals, tried to overcome some of the bad luck he has had at the Baldwin semifinal round.
Last year, it looked as if Menchetti had won, until pro eater Eric "Badlands" Booker arrived late and came in first. Booker is also the reigning champ and the man to beat in Manhattan.
While he managed to eat 11 1/2 matzos last week, Menchetti came in second yet again, although he still has a chance to advance to the finals by competing at another Ben's location or as a wild card.
"I'm tired of coming in second here," Menchetti said.
He was tired because the man with the cast-iron stomach, Lerman, had eaten 13 1/2 matzo balls and took first place. "I feel great," said Lerman after the competition.
Later on, the reigning champ, Booker, surprised everyone when he showed up and competed just for fun and charity. His score was not counted, and the hefty eater entertained the crowd and kids with a few of his own light-hearted rap songs.
But it's safe to say that Booker did cause some concern among the other pros when, in rapid succession, he downed 14 matzo balls, a sign that he will not be an easy man to beat in the finals.
"I feel good," said Booker. "I'm trying to shoot for 25 this year."
