(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority is inviting 10 contestants to eat fresh and eat plenty during the Subway Sandwich Challenge on May 4, 2024, during the 25th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival in Saipan.
The Subway Eating Contest will challenge competitors to finish 15 four-inch Subway sandwiches within an hour. 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 three finishers will also go on to compete the following Saturday, May 11, in the Oh My Grill International Food Challenge on May 11, 2024, against competitors from South Korea and Japan, each contestant facing approximately 12 lbs. of local BBQ and side dishes.
Taste of the Marianas is an annual signature event of the MVA and will be held every Saturday night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (until 11 p.m. on May 25) during May Tourism Month 2024 at American Memorial Park in Garapan, Saipan. The festival is a gourmet’s delight, offering some of the destination’s best cuisine and entertainment and featuring affordable dishes from local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, food eating competitions, cooking contests, arts and crafts sales, and more. Entry is free.
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.
MVA has also announced that for the first time, “Taste” food and drink vendors will also accept credit/debit cards payments at their booths. Iconic “Taste” tokens can still be purchased at the festival with cash or credit/debit cards.
“For the convenience of customers, we are pleased to announce that all food and drink vendors will accept payment via credit or debit card this year, allowing the public to skip the token booth and get to the food and fun faster,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “At the same time, we will continue to sell and accept ‘Taste’ tokens, which will be sold at the festival grounds at our token booth. It’s going to be an incredible May Tourism Month with ‘Taste.’ ”
This year’s festival eateries will include 38 Mitsubachi, Smokeout by Apu, Cup Bab Korean Restaurant, Ben ki, Yaya’s Baked Goods, CK Smokehouse and Salad, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Fork and Spoon, Great Harvest Bread Co., Herman’s Modern Bakery, Lanlan Tea House, Island Grindz, Java Joe’s, Kanto 10, Kinpachi, Loco & Taco, Tupu Cane Juice, New Matty’s BBQ, Oh My Grill, Surf Club, T-Bar, The Hut, Vi- Lyn’s BBQ, Saipan World Resort, Ever Trust 123 Food, Aqua Resort, Pacific Islands Club and Coral Ocean Resort Saipan, Marpac, Napu Brewing, and WSTCO.
Festival Gold Sponsors are American Memorial Park, Bridge Capital LLC and Dave Electronics Center. Silver Sponsors are Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, EST Rental, IT&E, HANMI, Jonny’s Bar and Grill, M&C LLC, Lanlan Tea House, and Subway
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Ray Villagomez at rvillagomez@mymarians.com or (670) 664-3200.
Herman’s Modern Bakery, the oldest bakery in Saipan, serves patrons at the Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on June 17, 2023. The 25th Annual Taste of the Marianas will be held by the Marianas Visitors Authority on May 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2024, at American Memorial Park.
