The fastest jaw in the West

Angelique Flores

Locals come to see the champion’s picture on the wall and are amazed.

With a big stain on her T-shirt and an even bigger sombrero on her head,

she poses as the reigning champ for the past four years. Lori Roberts,

22, is the fastest burrito-eating woman at OC Taco House in Huntington

Beach -- tackling a foot-long, 3-pound burrito in 2 minutes 20 seconds.

This year, she may have some tough competition.

The restaurant will host its seventh annual Cinco de Mayo celebration

Saturday, with the burrito-eating contest as the main event. To win,

contestants must be the fastest at devouring a massive Grande Burrito

with the contestant’s choice of meat, beans, rice, lettuce, cheese,

onion, tomatoes and cilantro.

Jon Allen of Huntington Beach entered last year at the last minute.

Placing second with a time of 6 minutes 50 seconds, he plans to give

Roberts a run for her money.

“This year, I’m going to hunker down and eat a bunch of food the night

before, then not eat that day,” Allen said.

Allen isn’t the only one preparing for the showdown.

Graham Finochio of Huntington Beach has been eating a Grande Burrito

every week to warm up for his first try in the contest.

“I’ll shove as much in my mouth as I can,” the 16-year-old boy said.

Allen, manager at the shop, has noted other warmup practices over the

years: not eating all day, working out at the gym beforehand to build an

appetite or eating nothing but pasta the night before.

Contestants also have techniques during the contest. Some use their

hands, others use a knife and fork. Some are neat and eat in smaller

portions, others just cram it in their mouths.

“It’s actually pretty disgusting,” said Jeff Whitefield, the shop’s

owner.

The secret is to eat it consistently and swallow it, Whitefield advises.

He has noticed that contestants will overstuff their mouths until their

cheeks look like chipmunks. Then they can’t chew what’s inside their

mouths. Some contestants have even come close to getting sick.

“They’re a complete mess when they’re done,” Whitefield said. “Half the

burrito ends up in their face, ears and nose. It’s not pretty.”

No one knows Roberts’ secret to success.

“I don’t know how she does it. She’s unhuman,” Allen said.

Roberts signs up at the last minute to keep from scaring away potential

opponents. Last year, she even took her speedy eating to the Yorba Linda

shop and won there.

“If she enters again, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to win,” Finochio

said. “But I want to at least be in the top three.”

About 20 contestants have already signed up to compete in the Cinco de

Mayo competition.

“We’d like to see someone new win,” said Linda Whitefield, who co-owns

the restaurant.

Winners will receive gift certificates and T-shirts, and their picture

will hang on the wall of OC Taco House for a year.

“It looks really gross, I wouldn’t want any of my pictures on the wall,”

Finochio said.

The celebration of Cinco De Mayo commemorates the defeat of the French

army by the Mexicans at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

OC Taco House, formerly Taco Mania, will host Cinco de Mayo festivities

beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, and they will last throughout the day.

There will be raffles, face painting, giveaways, music and food specials.

The contest will begin at 1 p.m. The contest is open to all ages.

Contestants can sign up at the shop, 5942 Edinger Ave., Suite 104.