The first ever black caviar speed eating championship was organized in Moscow over the weekend, the RBK TV online resource said.
"I once saw a report on how they made big chocolate truffles in Georgia and organized an eating competition. I remembered foggy Albion where they compete in nettle speed eating contests and hamburger [speed eating contests] in America. I thought, why shouldn't we do our own, Russian competition? So it happened," organizer Alexander Novikov said.
Hundreds of guests attended the competition held at a ritzy restaurant in downtown Moscow. Twelve contestants were chosen by a lottery. They were to consume half a kilogram of the luxurious delicacy costing tens of thousands of dollars as quickly as possible. The entire contest reportedly cost organizers 2 million rubles ($70,000).
The winner, who identified himself as Alexander Valov, 49, conquered his rivals by devouring his half-kilogram in one minute and 26 seconds. As a prize, he got 10,000 rubles ($340) and more caviar to take home.
Organizers offered each competitor half a kilogram of black caviar as a prize for participation.
Russia resumed its official exports of sturgeon caviar to the European Union in February 2011, after a nine-year ban introduced in 2002.
