PHOENIX — While Michelle Lesco, Major League Eating’s #2 ranked female eater, tries to make a pasta meal disappear in world-record time, Oregano’s Pizza Bistro and its guests will make 50,000 pasta meals appear for needy families in the Valley with the Carbs For A Cause charity event during the week of September 18th.
Lesco, a Tucson resident who recently finished second in the 2017 Nathans’ Hot Dog Eating contest (eating 32-1/2 hot dogs in 10 minutes), will set her sights on pasta in a kickoff record-try set for Monday, September 18 at 8 a.m. at the Oregano’s Old Town Scottsdale location. Currently, the Guinness World Record for eating a bowl of pasta is 41 seconds, held by Canadian Peter “Furious Pete” Czerwinski.
Lesco, 33, a Major League Eating “Humanitarian of the Year,” says she’s excited to take aim at the pasta record while bringing attention to Oregano’s charity event, which goes on all week at the pizza joint’s 15 Valley locations.
“I’ve been training, I love Oregano’s and I’m ready,” says Lesco, a teacher who weighs in at a svelte 112 pounds when she’s not packing down hot dogs and a personal best 150 chicken wings in 10 minutes. “Bring on the noodles!”
Oregano’s founder and CEO Mark S. Russell is also ready – for Carbs With a Cause, which for the second consecutive year gives guests two ways to help hungry families in need through Oregano’s partnership with St. Mary’s, which this year is celebrating the food bank’s 50th anniversary. Guests can help by:
Buying a pasta dish at any Valley Oregano’s between September 18th and 22nd. For every pasta dish sold between 9/18 and 9/22, Oregano’s will donate three pasta meals to St. Mary’s Food Bank.
Buying a special edition “House of Carbs” T-Shirt at Oreganos.com. For every $20 t-shirt sold, Oregano’s will donate one week of pasta meals for a family of four to St. Mary’s Food Bank.
“We’re excited about Michelle trying to break a record and we’re thrilled to help 50,000 people get a much-needed pasta meal,” said Russell. “We’ve been feeding families heaping pasta dishes for almost a quarter century. We’re putting our energy into Carbs For A Cause because we very much want to share the great feeling a pasta meal brings with the families who rely on St. Mary’s Food Bank.”
Founded in 1993, Oregano’s has 15 Valley locations, plus five locations outside metro Phoenix. Specializing in original Chicago-style thin crust, stuffed and pan pizzas, as well as abundant specialty salads and pastas, Oregano’s menu continues to be inspired by recipes passed down from Russell’s family.
WHAT: ATTEMPT TO BREAK GUINNESS PASTA EATING SPEED RECORD TO KICKOFF OREGANO’S “CARBS FOR A CAUSE” WEEK
WHEN: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH AT 8 AM
WHERE: OREGANO’S OLD TOWN, 3102 NORTH SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SCOTTSDALE AZ 85251