By Maddy Anand, Packet Media Group
Waiters and waitresses faced off Thursday, July 9, in the Princeton Merchants Association’s 5th Annual Waiters’ Race for cash and prizes. The course ran through the Princeton Shopping Center and had many surprising twists and turns.
Although many thought the course was easier than the previous year’s at Palmer Square, they attempted to run faster which inevitably ended in spills.
Mayor Liz Lampert kicked off the festivities by thanking everyone for their attendance and wishing them luck. “Hopefully this makes everyone hungry and thirsty for some local dining,” she said.
The finals consisted of the top finishers of a series of earlier heats or preliminary races. There were 70 total racers.
“Each year we have more and more people sign up,” said John Marshall, president of the Princeton Merchants Association. “We had people calling in at the last minute up until about Monday to add racers.”
Men and women raced separately and had five heats each. Each waiter was given two full glasses of water and two full BAI beverage bottles without caps to balance and were instructed to minimize spilling and not touch the contents of their trays.
However, there was a catch. “If you come in first and someone comes in after you with less liquid on their trays, they could actually win,” said Laura Etsy, race coordinator.
Jen Sanic from The Alchemist and Barrister went in the first heat of women, and said she didn’t know what to expect. “I was like the experiment,” she said. “After half the team went it was a lot smoother.”
The crowd started off cheering and watched nervously as the servers made their way around the courtyard. The waiters and waitresses single-handedly juggled their trays with grace and ran as fast as they could.
“We like to keep the crowd on their feet and the contestants on their toes,” said Mr. Marshall.
Emily Najjar from Mediterra came in first place for the women. “I’m just so ecstatic!” she said, the name “Mediterror” written on her shirt. “I just looked straight and didn’t worry about spilling.” She took home $250 cash, a weekend overnight stay at the Nassau Inn, a bottle of bubbly, a cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and more.
Kelly Ann Basford from Teresa’s Caffe took second place for the women and Lauren Sabogal from Blue Point Grill finished close behind in third. They took home $150 and $75 respectively and a similar assortment of prizes.
“Slow and steady wins the race,” said Ms. Basford.
Dan Speck from Witherspoon Grill took the men’s title for the second consecutive year. Mario Lorenzana from Teresa’s Cafe took second, and Vandyke Garcia from Yankee Doodle Tap Room was third.
All prizes were donated by local merchants.
The waiters’ race originated in France as a part of the celebration of Bastille Day, which is on July 14. The race started around 10 years ago in Princeton and switches between being held at Palmer Square and the Princeton Shopping Center.
