New Bedford Challenges Foodies To Eat 10 Portuguese Natas in 15 Minutes

I’ve been training my entire life for this moment.

Forget eating contests featuring hot dogs and chicken wings. This Saturday in New Bedford, the real competition begins with buttery pastry layers, creamy custard filling and enough sugar to fuel an entire Portuguese feast.

Feasta by the Sea is hosting a Pastel de Nata Eating Contest, and this challenge feels right up my alley.

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The Rules of the Nata Challenge

The rules are simple: contestants must eat 10 pastéis de nata in 15 minutes. No sharing, no outside assistance and absolutely no mercy. The competition gets underway at noon on Saturday, May 30 at 1641 Padanaram Street in New Bedford.

Now, I know what some people are probably thinking:10 natas in 15 minutes sounds aggressive. Borderline reckless, even. However, if you grew up on the SouthCoast surrounded by Portuguese food festas and bakery runs that somehow always ended with a box of pastries coming home, then this feels less like a challenge and more like destiny.

Gluttonous? Sure. Doable? Definitely.

There’s something so perfectly New Bedford about this entire event. Talk about a unique way to get people to gather around Portuguese pastries and test the limits of human capability one custard tart at a time.

READ MORE: New Bedford Candle Shop Turns Delicious Portuguese Dessert Into Latest Scent

Honestly, I feel like my whole life has unknowingly been preparing me for this exact moment. Every family party, every late-night stop at a Portuguese bakery and every “I’ll just have one” that somehow turned into four or five natas feels like training camp.

The only thing missing is Rocky theme music playing in the background while contestants stretch out their stomachs before the opening bell.

Can Anyone Actually Eat 10 Natas?

Whether you’re brave enough to compete or just want to watch the chaos unfold, this might be one of the most uniquely Portuguese-inspired food contests the SouthCoast has ever seen. Something tells me whoever wins is going to earn local legend status.

As for me? I’m not saying I’m ready – but I’m also not not ready.