Mark McDonald, right, and other contestants tackle five footlongs during the Subway Sandwich Challenge at the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival in Saipan. The 26th Annual Taste of The Marianas will be held by the Marianas Visitors Authority on May 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31, 2025 at American Memorial Park.
MVA photo
(MVA) — Just how fast could you eat an 18-inch submarine sandwich? The Marianas Visitors Authority is looking for 12 contestants with hearty appetites to take on the Subway Sandwich Challenge on May 3, 2025, during opening night of the 25th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival in Saipan, The Marianas.
The Subway Sandwich Challenge will time competitors to find the fastest to finish an 18- inch sandwich, their respective portion of three 6-foot Giant Subway Sandwiches.
The top three finishers will win gift certificates from Subway/Coca-Cola/Powerade/Foremost: $300 worth for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for third place. The top two finishers will also go on to compete the following Saturday (May 10) in the Inas’ Kitchen international food fighters competition against contenders from South Korea and Japan.
“Subway, Foremost and Coca-Cola have a long history of giving back to the communities where we live and work. Our companies and team of dedicated employees take pride in being active, caring members of our island-community,” said Virgie Avendaño, senior marketing and media executive.
Rules and registration form for the Subway Sandwich Challenge are available at www.mymarianas.com and at the MVA offices in Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Entry is free.
“We are looking for food fighters from The Marianas, Guam, or any other region who would like to take on our Subway Sandwich Challenge as we kick off Taste of The Marianas on May 3. First-come, first-serve!” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “And for the rest of us, we can take our time savoring the many international flavors to be offered by 28 food and drink vendors throughout this month-long Marianas food extravaganza.”
Taste of The Marianas is an annual signature event of MVA and will be held every Saturday night from 5-10 p.m. (until 11 p.m. on the final night) during May Tourism Month 2025 at American Memorial Park in Garapan, Saipan. The festival is a gourmet delight, offering some of the destination’s best cuisine and featuring affordable dishes from local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, eating and cooking contests, arts and crafts sales, and more. Entry is free.
This year’s festival eateries will include Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Herman’s Modern Bakery, V-Lyn’s BBQ, Benki, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant, 123 Foods, CK Smokehouse & Salad, T Bar, The Hut, Kanto 10, Yaya’s Baked Goods, Loco & Taco, Lanlan Tea House, Fork & Spoon, Matty’s BBQ, Tupu Cane Juice, Oh My Grill, 38 Mitsubachi, Surf Club Saipan, Great Harvest, Saipan World Resort, Plumeria Steakhouse, Dea Jang Kum, Chow Time, and Pho Tam. Drink vendors will be WSTCO, MARPAC/Unified Sports Organization, and Napu Brewing.
Festival Gold Sponsors are American Memorial Park. Silver Sponsors are Coca-Cola/Foremost/Subway, Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, EST Rental, M&C LLC Construction Company, IT&E and Century Insurance.
“Taste” food and drink vendors will be accepting both credit/debit cards payments or “Taste” tokens. Tokens will be available for purchase at the festival with cash or credit/debit cards or at the MVA office on Beach Road in Garapan beginning April 17, 2025.
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Jack Aranda at communityprojects@mymarianas.com or (670) 664-3200.
