For the last two years, Richmond's favorite Vietnamese restaurant, Mekong, has hosted the Pho King Super Bowl Challenge. The Pho King challenge kicks off at 4 PM Super Bowl Sunday, and pits its contestants against one another to see who can eat a giant bowl of Pho and chug a bootfull of quality beer the fastest. He who does so and manages to keep it down will be crowned Pho King for the year, enjoying all the privileges due one of Pho royal lineage.
Last year (and the year before) RVA Magazine's own John Reinhold just barely squished it down and sucked it back fast enough to take top-stomach, protecting his crown for another year. This time around, he will be stepping down as contender to host the event, leveling the playing field for all would-be Pho Kings who dare to challenge.
Check out this hilarious video montage featuring John Reinhold as he trains his protege in what it really takes to be Pho King.
PHO KING TRAINING MONTAGE from Ben Muri on Vimeo.
This guy almost took the title from Reinhold last year.
And here's the classic video footage from when Reinhold first took the crown in 2010:
When asked about John Reinhold's choice of Deejay Greenberg as his protege for the Pho King Challenge, fan favorite and RVA Magazine-sponsored eating legend Dan "Rot-Gut" Anderson said: "I'm not worried at all. I think John must have some sort of a score to settle with this Deejay character. I mean, why else would he gas his tiny little head then feed him to the dragon? Poor guy. I feel sorry for him, I really do. But once he steps into the ring, it's on."
Check out the PHO KING event page for more info, if you think you have what it takes!!!