Thosai-eating Machine: 36 thosais and more in 68 minutes

New Paper

2 days ago

On a humid Friday afternoon, under the warm lights of the iconic MTR restaurant in Little India, Singapore's most famous food gladiator, Zermatt Neo, did something utterly jaw-dropping.
He polished off a staggering 36 thosais in 68 minutes, along with an avalanche of other South Indian dishes.
And I was there to witness it, surrounded by the clatter of cameras, the gasps of onlookers and the hum of disbelief.
Zermatt, the 37-year-old Singaporean competitive eater and social media sensation, is no stranger to viral food challenges. But even by his sky-high standards, this was something special.
Wearing his trademark quiet focus and a hungry grin, Zermatt attacked the feast with surgical precision:
10 podi masala thosais
10 masala thosais
5 set thosais
1 godhi thosai
2 plates of podi idli
3 plates of chilli bhaji
2 bowls of bisibele bath
1 curd rice
And a selection of chutneys, sagoos, raitas, lassis and lemonades.
That's more than 7kg of food, drenched in 1.6kg of ghee, consumed in just over an hour.
"I chose MTR because so many of my Indian followers kept recommending it," Zermatt told me post-feast, still glowing - not from sweat, but what can only be described as thosai bliss. "They said this was the place to try real South Indian food. I went for it on my own free will, and they were right."
Indeed, MTR, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary globally and 12th in Singapore, is no average restaurant. Known for its no-shortcut approach - no preservatives, no chemicals just good-old freshly ground masalas and batters - it draws loyalists from across cultures.
"About 30 per cent of our podi thosais are eaten by Chinese customers," said MTR manager Srinivasa Satish Rao. "But this is the first time I've seen anyone eat 36 thosais in one go. Zermatt was smiling throughout. Incredible."
It wasn't just thosais. Zermatt had never tried some of these varieties before. "I've had thosai before," he said, "but not like this. The spices, the ghee, the textures - buttery, crispy, hot. It's an experience. You can tell there's love in every fold of the thosai."
And yet, watching him eat was hypnotic. Calm, composed, surgical. I couldn't help but ask: How does one even do this?
Zermatt laughed and told me: "It's years of training. I started off with a 2kg capacity. I've worked up to 9kg now. Before and after each challenge, I fast for 24 hours to reset my body."
What about health?
"I go for full health checks every six months. My biomarkers are top 2 to 5 per cent. My doctor says I'm healthier than 90 per cent of Singaporeans."
If it all sounds impossible, you should know this: Zermatt is not your average mukbanger (someone who consumes copious amounts of food on camera). With a ripped physique, a Tesla parked outside, and more than 2.2 million YouTube subscribers and a total of 4.5 million TikTok, Instagram and Facebook followers, he's a brand.
He juggles nutrition knowledge, gym routines and travel schedules to pursue what he calls "performative gastronomy".
At MTR, the audience of about 15 - including three camera operators, restaurant staff and curious patrons like me, drawn to the spectacle by the manager's invitation - watched with rapt attention as he gulped down thosai after thosai, mixing technique with pure willpower.
What happens when you hit your limit?
"You feel the flavours start to repeat, so I use tricks - mango lassi to cleanse the palate, honey lemon to lighten things. That helps reset the taste buds," he said.
MTR's famed masala podi thosai was his favourite. "Perfect balance. The crispy exterior, the fluffy interior, the spicy potatoes - chef's kiss," he said.
Zermatt's eating prowess is no fluke. He holds world records for devouring 92 chicken wings in eight minutes, 7kg of beef noodles in 15 minutes and 9.5kg of laksa. His recent stint with butter chicken - 4kg chicken, 3kg rice, 1kg naan - went viral.
Indian food, he says, is the heaviest among cuisines. "The ghee, the spices - it hits different. But it's also the most delicious."
So, is this the most thosais anyone has ever eaten in a single sitting?
"I don't know," he said with a chuckle. "But if it is, I'd be happy to break my own record next time."
Spectator and MTR regular Raj Nainani, who claims to have eaten there daily for years, was in awe: "Zermatt did something extraordinary. I Googled it - I think it is a world record."
Behind the gluttony lies a mind of discipline. Zermatt adheres to intermittent fasting, stacks his post-challenge meals with fibre and probiotics and works out six times a week, focusing on cardio and compound lifts. "I don't binge every day. It's planned. It's science," he said.
There's also deep respect for culture. "My Indian viewers love when I eat with my hands," he said. "It makes them feel connected. That connection means everything to me."
Zermatt might be a global Internet phenomenon, but on May 23 at MTR Singapore, he was simply a man who loved eating thosais. The watchers clapped. The chefs peeked from the kitchen, stunned. He stood, wiped his hands, and flashed a grin.
"I'm full," he said.
Full of food, yes. But also full of joy. And for those of us lucky enough to watch, full of wonder.