He’s got an appetite for glory.
A healthcare IT consultant and serial world-record chaser has likely secured the Guinness world record for chowing down at the most Michelin-starred restaurants in 24 hours.
“As soon as I saw this, I thought, ‘I have to do it,’” Eric Finkelstein, 34, said. “This one did call out to me as almost no record has.”
The galloping gourmand, weighing in at 152 pounds, trusted his gut to endure a frantic feast of crudo, duck mortadella toasts and other meticulously-prepared plates across 18 Big Apple eateries, which easily exceed the Guinness guideline of 12. And he did it in only 11 hours.
Finkelstein learned about the record last year. He then spent months securing difficult reservations at such culinary legends as Gramercy Tavern in Gramercy and Bâtard in TriBeCa, and mapping out his itinerary.
On Wednesday, Finkelstein, wearing proper attire — a navy blazer and gray slacks — embarked on the cross-town smorgasbord, with The Post shadowing him, as he gobbled his way across Manhattan and Brooklyn via subway and Citi Bike.
New Jersey man Eric Finkelstein set a Guinness World Record for eating at the most Michelin-starred restaurants in 24 hours. He started his journey with a meal at Le Pavillon in Midtown. Stephen Yang
The journey began with a $36-grilled avocado salad at Le Pavillon in Midtown. Afterward, Finkelstein rushed out the door for a $25 spoonful of caviar with blini and creme fraiche at Midtown’s Caviar Russe, and ditched the jacket.
He devoured grilled scallops, dressed with grapefruit and chrysanthemum, at Tuome in Alphabet City, along with a $15 bowl of lingonberries at Midtown’s Aquavit. Steak tartare was a repeat delicacy, at Bâtard ($28) and Oiji Mi in Flatiron ($24).
The dishes, which Finkelstein recorded on his smartphone and body cams as proof for the Guinness officials, were tailored toward the “smallest” and “quickest” preparations possible. He downed many in less than two minutes.
Finkelstein was able to eat at 18 restaurants in just 11 hours. Stephen Yang
Finkelstein said he felt full after the final item — a luscious uni- and caviar-topped chawanmushi, or Japanese steamed egg custard, at the Flatiron sushi spot Noda. He estimated he had consumed a “minimum of 5,000 calories.”
Still, that didn’t stop him from celebrating with a few drinks and “bumps” of caviar at the sister bar Shinji’s Corner.
The menu price for the day’s meals came in at $494, not including tax, or his generous 30-percent tips.
Finkelstein traveling to Momofuku Ko in lower Manhattan on a Citi Bike. Stephen Yang
Finkelstein recognized that speed-eating is far from the ideal way to experience a dish at the city’s best dining establishments.
“Turning Michelin-starred restaurants into fast food, you’re kind of going against the spirit of what they’re doing,” he said.
The restaurants’ staff, however, were tickled by the indulgent challenge, many cheering on their unorthodox guest like a marathon runner.
Finkelstein celebrating after finishing his day with a dish at Noda in Manhattan. Stephen Yang“This is my 10th Michelin restaurant and I’ve never had anyone do this,” said The Musket Room GM Adam Jaffe. “I feel like I should get him ready. I should have a water bottle for him or a towel.”
The Morristown, NJ, resident is no stranger to shattering obscure records. Finkelstein’s list of off-beat accomplishments includes visiting all of the Citi Bike docks in the five boroughs and Jersey City, and holding the Guinness record for the longest table-tennis serve. Earlier this month, he constructed the largest flag made out of roughly 20,000 ping-pong balls in another record attempt.
Guinness World Records confirmed that it had greenlit an attempt for the record of eating at the most Michelin-starred restaurants in 24 hours. It will determine in three to four months whether it was a success or a bust.
