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These two Tucson women ate 19 pounds of burritos in under an hour (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

These two Tucson women ate 19 pounds of burritos in under an hour (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

Jul 22, 20193 min read

Looking at Michelle Lesco and her 5’3″, 112-pound frame, you’d never expect her to be a world-class competitive eater. The same goes for 5’7″, 135-pound Miki Sudo.

However, the duo won second and first place at the annual Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest just weeks ago. In only ten minutes, the two women collectively ate 57 hot dogs.

On Friday, Lesco and Sudo collectively ate over 19 pounds of burritos at Red Desert BBQ & Catering. With the requisite 24-hour advance notice, they accepted the burrito challenge.

Burrito challenge at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

It all starts with bacon. Enough bacon to fill a sheet pan.

Burrito challenge at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Afterwards, three giant tortillas lay on top of the bacon. Next goes brisket, pulled pork, coleslaw, and other fixings.

Burrito challenge at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

The massive burrito requires two pairs of hands to roll properly.

Burrito challenge at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Once the burrito is formed and wrapped it bacon, it goes onto the griddle. After the bacon is cooked through, the burrito is topped with chili, jalapeños, onions, and more. Then it is weighed to make sure it is around six or seven pounds.

Competitive eater Michelle Lesco at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Up first was Lesco. The seven-pound, 1.9-ounce burrito was the size of her arm.

Competitive eater Michelle Lesco at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

After letting the burrito cool down enough to eat rapidly safely, Lesco dove right in.

Competitive eaters Michelle Lesco and Miki Sudo at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

At 12 minutes on the dot, Lesco finished the entire thing. You could say she was full at that point.

Competitive eater Michelle Lesco at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Lesco was the only person to complete the challenge up to this point. She tied her previous record from January 2018, where she ate a slightly smaller burrito in the exact same amount of time.

Here’s raw video footage of her second run:

Competitive eater Miki Sudo at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Sudo decided to attempt the challenge… twice. With both burritos at once. Her burritos weighed in at 12 pounds, 1.2 ounces.

Competitive eater Miki Sudo at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Sudo began by bisecting the burritos open to help them cool down faster.

Competitive eater Miki Sudo at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Sudo used a spoon to scoop the filling, somehow managing to avoid creating a mess.

Competitive eater Miki Sudo at Red Desert BBQ & Catering (Credit: Jackie Tran)

To even her own surprise, she finished both titanic burritos in 26 minutes and 52 seconds.

Here’s the raw footage of her performance:

For dessert, the duo tipped over a nearby ice cream truck and consumed all of the contents. Just kidding.

Red Desert BBQ & Catering is located at 918 W. Prince Rd. For more information, visit rdbbq.com.

Article written by:

Jackie Tran

Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.

An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.

Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.

If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.

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Join the Tucson Foodie team for a very special dinner at @sawmillrun. A culinary journey from the Sonoran Desert to the summit of Mount Lemmon. TOMORROW! Aug 15, 6-8pm.❤️ 

Tickets in bio.
MENU👇🌲

AMUSE:
Forest Floor
Hazelnut Soil • Whipped Goat Cheese • Black Garlic • Pickled Mushroom • Crispy Mushroom • Mountain Herbs

FIRST COURSE: 
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Compressed Melon • Whipped Feta • Chiltepin Vinaigrette • Pickled Cucumber • Toasted Pepitas • Mint

SECOND COURSE: 
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THIRD COURSE: 
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Juniper-Smoked Pork Belly • Charred Corn Succotash • Prickly Pear Gastrique • Dehydrated Jalapeños

PALATE CLEANSER:
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FOURTH COURSE: 
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Mesquite-Grilled Vera Earl Beef • Smoked Tomato Chimichurri • Charred Heirloom Tomato • Crispy Shallot

DESSERT: 
Summer on Mount Lemmon
Arizona Honeycomb Ice Cream • Roasted Willcox Peaches • Huckleberry Compote • Almond Streusel • Honey Tuile

#tucsonevents #tucsonfoodie #mtlemmonJoin the Tucson Foodie team for a very special dinner at @sawmillrun. A culinary journey from the Sonoran Desert to the summit of Mount Lemmon. TOMORROW! Aug 15, 6-8pm.❤️ Tickets in bio. MENU👇🌲 AMUSE: Forest Floor Hazelnut Soil • Whipped Goat Cheese • Black Garlic • Pickled Mushroom • Crispy Mushroom • Mountain Herbs FIRST COURSE: Desert Oasis Compressed Melon • Whipped Feta • Chiltepin Vinaigrette • Pickled Cucumber • Toasted Pepitas • Mint SECOND COURSE: Campfire Embers Roasted Bone Marrow • House Chorizo • Pickled Shallot • Cilantro • House-Made Blue Corn Tortilla THIRD COURSE: Juniper Ridge Juniper-Smoked Pork Belly • Charred Corn Succotash • Prickly Pear Gastrique • Dehydrated Jalapeños PALATE CLEANSER: Aspen Breeze House-Made Lemon Sorbet • Candied Lemon • Fresh Mint FOURTH COURSE: Granite Peak Mesquite-Grilled Vera Earl Beef • Smoked Tomato Chimichurri • Charred Heirloom Tomato • Crispy Shallot DESSERT: Summer on Mount Lemmon Arizona Honeycomb Ice Cream • Roasted Willcox Peaches • Huckleberry Compote • Almond Streusel • Honey Tuile #tucsonevents #tucsonfoodie #mtlemmon
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Tucson staple @lebuzzcaffeplaza celebrates 30 years of business on August 22, and we stopped by their Plaza Palomino location to try some of the August specials created just for this location.

🍒Tiki Cold Brew
Cherry-infused cold brew topped with cream of coconut cold foam

🥣Oatmeal Creme Pie Latte
Espresso, milk of choice, house-made oatmeal syrup and oatmeal creme pie cold foam

🎂Birthday Cake Latte
Espresso, milk of choice, house-made birthday cake syrup and birthday cake cold foam

And the food specials are just as tempting:

• Flan French Toast with flan caramel, house-made flan cream, whipped cream and fresh berries

• Croissant Croque Madame with Black Forest ham, Gruyère, mornay, chives and a sunny-side-up egg

Plus, we got to try some favorites from the main menu, including the quiche and soup, Summer Cobb Salad, LeVeggie Burger and Blueberry Brisket Burger.

2930 N. Swan Rd., Suite 130

Don’t wait too long to try the August specials!❤️

Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com 
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonfoodLE BUZZ IS CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!🎉☕️ Tucson staple @lebuzzcaffeplaza celebrates 30 years of business on August 22, and we stopped by their Plaza Palomino location to try some of the August specials created just for this location. 🍒Tiki Cold Brew Cherry-infused cold brew topped with cream of coconut cold foam 🥣Oatmeal Creme Pie Latte Espresso, milk of choice, house-made oatmeal syrup and oatmeal creme pie cold foam 🎂Birthday Cake Latte Espresso, milk of choice, house-made birthday cake syrup and birthday cake cold foam And the food specials are just as tempting: • Flan French Toast with flan caramel, house-made flan cream, whipped cream and fresh berries • Croissant Croque Madame with Black Forest ham, Gruyère, mornay, chives and a sunny-side-up egg Plus, we got to try some favorites from the main menu, including the quiche and soup, Summer Cobb Salad, LeVeggie Burger and Blueberry Brisket Burger. 2930 N. Swan Rd., Suite 130 Don’t wait too long to try the August specials!❤️ Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonfoodie #tucsonfood
Sonoran Restaurant Week is back for its 8th year!🎉

❤️Restaurant owners: Applications close August 14. There is no cost to participate, and you’ll be included in Tucson Foodie’s biggest marketing campaign of the year, featuring print, online, social, radio, TV, menu previews, chef interviews, and more.

From September 4 to 13, local restaurants across Southern Arizona will come together for 10 days of incredible fixed-price menus, giving diners the perfect excuse to explore Tucson’s amazing food scene. 

#sonoranrestaurantweek #srw2026 
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonarizonaSonoran Restaurant Week is back for its 8th year!🎉 ❤️Restaurant owners: Applications close August 14. There is no cost to participate, and you’ll be included in Tucson Foodie’s biggest marketing campaign of the year, featuring print, online, social, radio, TV, menu previews, chef interviews, and more. From September 4 to 13, local restaurants across Southern Arizona will come together for 10 days of incredible fixed-price menus, giving diners the perfect excuse to explore Tucson’s amazing food scene. #sonoranrestaurantweek #srw2026 #tucsonfoodie #tucsonarizona
Opened in 2023, @kabulcorner is Tucson’s only Afghan restaurant, created to provide jobs, community, and a taste of home for Afghan families who made Tucson their new home. 

Today, Sediq Haidari and his family serve traditional Afghan dishes like bolani, mantou, Kabuli palaw, fresh tandoori naan, and house-made chaka, while preserving recipes and traditions rooted in Afghanistan’s rich history. 

With its warm hospitality, authentic food, and strong sense of community, Kabul Corner has become a little piece of home in the Sonoran Desert. ❤️ 

“These dishes are famous not only in Afghanistan, but in neighboring countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iran, and even parts of China. It sits right between Indian and Arabic food.” Sediq Haidari

Read @sea_lyon’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com 
Photos by @sea_lyon 
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonfoodOpened in 2023, @kabulcorner is Tucson’s only Afghan restaurant, created to provide jobs, community, and a taste of home for Afghan families who made Tucson their new home. Today, Sediq Haidari and his family serve traditional Afghan dishes like bolani, mantou, Kabuli palaw, fresh tandoori naan, and house-made chaka, while preserving recipes and traditions rooted in Afghanistan’s rich history. With its warm hospitality, authentic food, and strong sense of community, Kabul Corner has become a little piece of home in the Sonoran Desert. ❤️ “These dishes are famous not only in Afghanistan, but in neighboring countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iran, and even parts of China. It sits right between Indian and Arabic food.” Sediq Haidari Read @sea_lyon’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com Photos by @sea_lyon #tucsonfoodie #tucsonfood