By Jay Meisel

meisel@hometownnewsol.com

PORT ST. LUCIE - Except for eating some corned beef and cabbage a couple of times, a Port St. Lucie resident said corned beef isn't something he eats regularly.

But Chris Merchant was expected to get his fill of it earlier this week, when he participated in the TooJay's World Corned Beef Eating Championship in Palm Beach Gardens on St. Patrick's Day.

To win the $5,000 first prize, Mr. Merchant had to eat more corned beef sandwiches in 10 minutes than some champion eaters.

"I think I'm a fast eater," Mr. Merchant said last week. "I really don't chew that much."

What led to him becoming an entrant, he said, was his girlfriend told him about an eating contest sign at TooJay's in Stuart.

To possibly qualify for a spot, he had to eat a large roast beef sandwich, along with a pickle, coleslaw and French fries.

Mr. Merchant said he decided to go for it, although he had never entered an eating contest before.

He described the sandwich as enormous, having a pound and a half of meat and "really" thick rye bread.

Ron Coburn, assistant manager of TooJay's in Stuart, said Mr. Merchant was one of about 30 people who finished the sandwich.

A couple didn't, he added.

Mr. Merchant was selected by drawing for a slot in the contest, Mr. Coburn said.

Mr. Merchant said he hoped to gulp down 10 to 15 corned beef sandwiches within the 10 minute allotted time frame.

To get ready for the contest, Mr. Merchant said, he planned to buy some corned beef and find the best way of eating it.

One possible strategy, he said, was to eat the meat first and then dunk the bread in water to make it go down easier.

"I figure the bread is what is going to hold me up the longest," he said.

The contest was sanctioned by Major League Eating and was expected to include Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., the current Major Eating League champion.