Theza Friedman of West Windsor is looking forward to her sixth year in competition at the annual Oyster Bowl. She has placed near the top every year and has often been the women’s champion. The event, hosted by Blue Point Grill in Princeton, will be held Sunday, February 2, to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
“The first time I heard about the Oyster Bowl I was excited about the thought of eating as many oysters as I want,” she says. “I thought it would be fun and I signed up the next year.”
Each participant has a judge in front of them who makes sure all the oysters are properly managed. You have to eat and put the shell into a bucket. It does not matter how you eat them, or when you put the shells into the bucket but you must do both to have them count within the two-minute time frame.
“It was cold and I knew I ate 65 in two minutes,” says Friedman. “I was curious to see how many the winner ate, and then they announced my name as the winner of the women’s division.”
Raised in New York City, she graduated from Bucknell University with a degree in business administration and marketing. She worked with her father in the family business based on importing textiles. They traveled to Europe many times, and Friedman remembers the large seafood meals in Paris.
Her grandmother died in her 50s after a battle with breast cancer. “I never knew her,” Friedman says. “So many good friends have also battled breast cancer, and it’s become much more personal for me.”
Friedman did research to find out more about what happened with Komen when the organization pulled funding for Planned Parenthood. “I learned that the New Jersey affiliate had nothing to do with the policy,” she says. “I decided that I wanted to be involved with the organization, and I have respect for organizations that help. It’s all about screening. You have to take care of yourself and get yourself checked.”
Her husband, Robert, is a financial architect for a marketing department in New York City. “He’s a great supporter of the event,” she says. Their daughter, also named Theza, is a student at Grover Middle School and studies at Dance Corner. She also plays the saxophone in her school’s band and jazz ensemble. Their son, AJ, is a student at Village School. He plays basketball and baseball. “I enjoy being with the kids, and I’m extremely involved in their schools,” she says.
“I’m not a competitive eater and I don’t practice,” she says. “It is fun, and it’s for a good cause.” Regardless, she still does some superstitious things during the event. She always wears her Bucknell sweatshirt and pearl earrings. She always goes to the same judge. “Ed was my first judge and I always look for him,” she says. Lastly, she must have French fries after consuming the oysters.
Several years ago she and her children did a benefit for the Cherry Tree Club, a preschool that serves homeless and at-risk children. “It was really rewarding and that spurred us to do something for the community,” says Friedman. She and the children created “Loose Change” a few years ago. They make fliers and E-mail friends. They usually set up a table for one day at Yogo Factory.
“I have a hard time asking people for money, but people bring us money and they have helped get three families off the street,” she says. “Although they may have enough to move out of shelter and pay rent, they do not have enough money for a security deposit. We have raised several thousand dollars in the past few years.”
“It’s a lark, and I get excited about it,” she says. “By the way, oysters are about 10 calories each. It’s good to know when you eat 80 of them.”
Oyster Bowl, Blue Point Grill, 258 Nassau Street, Princeton. Sunday, February 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individual and corporate team contests. $50 includes shirt and all the oysters you can eat in two minutes. Register. Lunch available. 609-921-1211. www.oysterbowlnj.com.
