BMM qp strip CI
Sep25.indd 1 STATESIDE Live to eat
It’s no secret that Americans like their food. Many people are overweight in the U.S. and continually threaten their own health. Sharon Harris asks the perennial question: “do we live to eat or eat to live?”
9/9/25 10:09
I
have finally moved into my new house and am close to selling my old home. Fingers crossed it works out; it’s been a grueling experience, and one that I don’t want to repeat anytime soon. The answer is actually both, depending on whom you ask. The wonder of multiple new weight-loss drugs has only clouded the issue. As commercial after commercial advertises the newest product, Americans love affair with food endures.
What should anyone expect? Eating competition promotions have flourished for years, especially before a major sporting event. As Americans bet billions on the Super Bowl every February, they have also historically supported their favorite competitive food consuming contestant, not to mention the beer they consume.
14 OCTOBER 2025
For example, my hometown of Philadelphia introduced Wing Bowl in 1993-featuring chicken wings as the draw-as a radio stunt before the Super Bowl. Over 25 years, it also evolved into a charitable event. There’s a silver lining to everything. Competitors had their own nicknames and fans. Repeat winners like five-time champ “El Wingador” became semi-celebrities. While others have beat him at times, El Wingador still holds the Philadelphia eating record.
The tradition stopped during the Covid years. Since everything old becomes new again, the Plaza Hotel & Casino Showroom in downtown Las Vegas will relaunch a new 2026 Wing Bowl version next February on the Saturday night before Super Bowl. Wild entertainment, iconic personalities and the expected wing-eating showdown will highlight the festivities.
Sorry, they can move it wherever they want, but the atmosphere won’t be the same as a typical Philly crowd happening that supports the Eagles. However, I digress. Typically, the more food the better mindset gave way to the ever-present pPbuffet. For one price, people could eat as much as possible at their favorite casino. That proved to be enormously popular in the growing Atlantic City marketplace-and other emerging jurisdictions-of the past 50 years.
The senior population coming to Atlantic City made it a way of life. In those early days, casinos sponsored and funded buses to bring the masses for day trips from all areas of the Mid-Atlantic region.
For a small fee, customers could board one of dozens of daily casino-sponsored buses, enjoy a pleasant ride to the Shore, receive a
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