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1st Woman Wins Festival's Shortcake Eating Contest

Tribune photo by DAVE NICHOLSON

Florida Strawberry Festival queen Lauren Der and members of her court cheer Michelle Stringer as she finishes 4 pounds of shortcake to win the contest.

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 5, 2009

PLANT CITY - A 24-year-old college student on her spring break became the first woman to win the Florida Strawberry Festival's annual shortcake eating contest.

Michelle Stringer, a first-year graduate student at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, downed 4 pounds of shortcake in 10 minutes today to claim a trophy and bragging rights.

"I can't believe I ate that whole thing," Stringer said, clutching a trophy topped with a figure of a golden pig.

Stringer, who is studying physical therapy, said she attended the festival last year but didn't know about the shortcake contest until it was too late. She made sure she entered in plenty of time this year.

Barbara Caccamisi, who headed the competition, said the contests have been held for about 30 years, sponsored by St. Clement Catholic Church, which has a shortcake stand at the festival. Ten competitors were picked at random and four pounds of shortcake placed in front of them. The one to eat the entire shortcake – or come the closest – in 10 minutes is the winner, she said.

For the first seven minutes, the contestants use a spoon. For the final three minutes, they use their hands.

In Stringer's case, she mopped up the last of the cake just as time was expiring.

Stringer said she didn't starve herself for the contest, eating a regular breakfast and lunch. Stringer – who said she is in the area visiting her sister, Christiana Stringer of Brandon – said she likes shortcake, but not usually in this quantity.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at dnicholson@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-4432.

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