By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
Waiters from the Princeton area took a break from serving tables to race around Palmer Square on Thursday, July 12 for the waiters’ race.
Each waiter had to walk around Palmer Square balancing a tray of two bottles and two glasses of Bai juice without spilling to win the race. The person completing the course fastest, who spills the least and has all the items on his or her tray at the finish line, wins the race.
”The race is an opportunity to bring the merchants together and celebrate the waiters because they are the backbone of the restaurant industry,” said Lorrie Janick, the chair of the event.
There were three heats for the men and two heats for the women. The first and second place winners from each heat moved on to the finals to determine the overall winner.
The race featured 15 different local restaurants and 40 wait staff racers, and it was sponsored by Princeton Merchants Association.
”We’re hoping to get out there and have fun, get our name out and win,” said Zach Pughe-Sanford who was racing for Camillo’s Café.
He said his strategy was to put the glasses in the middle of the tray and walk briskly.
”I think slow and steady might win the race today,” said Joey Bergin who was racing for the Yankee Doodle Tap Room in the Nassau Inn. “We’re here to win.”
Mr. Bergin won his heat and moved on to the men’s finals. John Ryan Fry, who was also representing the Yankee Doodle Tap Room, won his first heat and placed first overall in the men’s final as well. Mr. Ryan said he was proud and excited to have won the race.
”I came out today to represent the community as well as my establishment,” he said.
Nicholas Casale from Princeton Sports Bar and Grille won second place in the men’s final.
Melanie Guntner, who raced for Mediterra, was the first place female winner.
”I just tried to go slow and steady and kept an eye on everyone around me,” she said. “I’m so happy I won.”
Larissa Scanella, who represented Winberie’s Restaurant and Bar, won second place overall for the females.
All the participants seemed to have a great time racing around the square as they laughed and smiled as their coworkers and supporters cheered them on from the sidelines.
”I had a fantastic time,” said Julie Samojedny, a waitress at Main Street Bistro who won her heat to move on to the finals. “My shoe unbuckled half way through the race, but I was like no I got to keep going! I just thought about getting to the end.”
Ms. Janick also said she was very pleased with how the day went.
”I was thrilled that the weather cooperated, and we had more participation and attendance than last year,” she said.
According to Ms. Janick, the Princeton Merchants Association has 67 members, and of those 67 members 47 participated in the race by donating, volunteering or racing.
Ms. Janick said the waiters’ race originated in France as a part of the celebration of Bastille Day.
The race started around 10 years ago in Princeton and was hosted by Palmer Square. According to Ms. Janick, the race was revived last year, so this year’s celebration was the second race since the revival.
Ms. Janick also said Princeton plans to host another waiters’ race next year.

