The average person can comfortably fit six tater tots in his or her mouth, according to the website ChaCha. Tonight, Bar Louie will test the limits of human consumption by hosting its inaugural tater tot-eating competition in Baton Rouge.
Dozens will put on their game faces — and mouths — this evening to compete for spudly glory. Teams and individual “competaters” will proudly shovel crisp, fried, starchy goodness into their gullets in hopes of winning it all as their friends and onlookers cheer them on.
The competition is part of a larger event — the sixth annual “Rock the Tot,” which will take place at 75 Bar Louie restaurants across the nation. Shane Srsen, general manager at Bar Louie, said “Rock the Tot” will attempt to set world records tonight, including one for simultaneous tot-eating. At 8 p.m. CST, each participant will eat a single tater tot with other tot enthusiasts, attempting to make it into history.
Another world record will be attempted: most tater tots eaten in three minutes. Next month, this record will be tested again at the national tater tot-eating championship in Cleveland, Ohio, according to Srsen.
On Oct. 5, Cleveland will host the top-five winners of the Bar Louie competition in the nationals. Srsen said the winners will receive a paid trip to Cleveland as well as admission to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The national winner will receive free loaded tots for life as well as a $500 cash prize.
Unlike common eating challenges that use hot dogs and chicken wings, Srsen said Bar Louie chose tots as the food to be devoured because it’s a signature item on the menu. Many appetizers are tot-centric and tots are offered as a side with every burger.
“Tater tots  — they’re a very popular item with the guests,” Srsen said. “And this is the first I’ve ever heard of a tater tot-eating contest.”
The night will begin at 6 p.m. with Bar Louie’s “Blues and Brews” drink specials: $3 draft beers and $5 martinis as well as music by Mike Brandt. Aaron McKinney will also perform, and the world-record attempt will follow at 8 p.m.
The competitions will be broken down into two categories: individuals and team relays.
Srsen said there are currently 11 teams registered for the competition, many of them from local companies like Mockler Beverage and the Apple store. He also said many University students will be competing, and there are still spots open for individuals looking to scarf down some golden-brown deliciousness.
Srsen said the team who can eat four pounds of tots the quickest will receive free tots for a year and T-shirts. The overall individual winner will also be granted a year’s supply of free tots and a T-shirt in addition to a customized trophy.
“[The trophy is] a large cup, and it has the ‘Rock the Tot’ event logo from this year on the base,” Srsen said. “And then one of our employees, her mom’s an artist here in Baton Rouge, and she’s painting this crazy tater tot man playing a guitar on the trophy. And there’s a large papier-mâché tot that sits inside of the cup.”
Srsen also said costumes are encouraged. Admission is free to competitors, but they must be registered by 6 p.m.
For more information and to register, visit rockthetot.com.
“Tater tots, they’re a very popular item with the guests … and this is the first I’ve ever heard of a tater tot eating contest.”