She didn’t discover she could eat, like really eat, until last May.

Dena Sutton’s friend challenged her to eat the King Leonidas at Jimmy the Greek’s pub in Old Orchard Beach, a five-pound calzone packed with ham, bacon, spinach and mushrooms.

Five feet tall and petite, Sutton polished it off in 35 minutes. Her guy friend couldn’t finish.

On a different day, two more friends challenged her to do it again.

She ate that five-pound calzone in 16 minutes. And a competitive eater was born.

She was crowned Jimmy’s bratwurst champ in October when she downed eight in three minutes. Sutton, who works in the office of an OOB hotel, says competitors just don’t see her coming.

“They look at me like, oh, yeah, she’s hiding something, or, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’” she said.

We asked her about brats, strategy and the perfect eating contest for Lewiston.

Name: Dena Sutton

Age: 25

Lives: Old Orchard Beach

Married, relationship, single? In the most wonderful relationship of my life!

Set the scene for Jimmy the Greek’s Bratwurst Eating contest. How many people were you up against? Any nerves?

It was “Oktoberfest” at Jimmy’s, a nice cool, nerve-racking October afternoon. I was eating brats week after week to strategize. I realized I didn’t like them and convinced myself I was probably going to lose. My initial plan was to ride my pink moped to the event, but I was so nervous that I couldn’t even drive my car there!

There was a large crowd due to the event and they surrounded the table to watch. Normally I’m not nervous about food competitions, but Jimmy himself overly talked me up due to my previous calzone feats. Jimmy also personally asked me to enter the contest. I really wanted to go to Puerto Rico (that night’s prize). I think I was the only one who was actually serious about the contest. What 25-year-old girl doesn’t want to go on vacation for free???!

I was up against 10 men . . . 10 hungry men. Some knew me, some didn’t. The ones who didn’t, looked at me as if I didn’t belong. After I got about three down and the crowd was cheering my name, all they could do was stop and stare.

Ten years ago, ever imagine yourself as state bratwurst champ? HAHA, no never. I’m not proud of it. I wish I was known for something other than this actually!

How’d you fare against Producer Joe (from the Free Beer & Hot Wings Show) at Rivalries, the Portland pub, in the chicken tender eat-off last month? I definitely beat him, but not by much! I’m more of an endurance eater. If the time limit was longer I could have pulled away, but of course I could have eaten the two pounds of tenders with ease.

Any strategy before one of these contests? I fast for two day. I can’t do this on the spot. I keep my stomach stretched without calories. Water and diet drinks.

Now, do you dive immediately into retirement or can you see yourself doing more of these sorts of contests down the road? I don’t go looking for it, but if a bar or restaurant needs me, I will do it for the free food and drinks.

Anything you’d draw the line at, as in, no way would I ever try … I’m half Korean. I think I would try just about anything. I think the unusual food is a great advantage for me! I have a very strong stomach.

What would be the perfect eating competition for a Lewiston pub? Chicken wings? Crepes? Poutine? I have never done dessert! I think something sweet would be a great competition. I’ve always wanted to do pancakes!

Next summer, if all of L-A drove down to OOB, what would be the two spots visitors would have to check out? Jimmy the Greek’s, of course. I’m always pro-Jimmy’s. They have awesome food, the type of food any other place in OOB doesn’t provide. I’m not the one to judge or stereotype how people from L-A are, but at Jimmy’s there is something for everyone! They have yearly events, bar, live bands, nightclub, restaurant. Just like me, he really appreciates a good beer and he really keeps us year-round locals entertained.

Also, the pier . . .  five bars on the water with different themes. Need I say more?!

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