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America is celebrating the Fourth of July today! Around the USA, families and friends are getting together to enjoy a little food and fun as we (hopefully) remember the founding of this great nation 247 years ago.
Here in the hot and steamy US Southern states, most families will roll out their Fourth of July fun as the sun starts to set. Grilling hot dogs and hamburgers on the 4th and enjoying an evening of fireworks remains a tradition for many.
An equally excited mosquito population is planning to be a vital part of tonight’s festivities, too.
On the East Coast in New York City, today marks the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest which is held at Coney Island in Brooklyn.
According to one source, the first Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest was held on July 4, 1916 – the same year which Nathan’s opened its first location in New York City. An Irish immigrant named Jim Mullen won the first event with an impressive total of 13 hot dogs and buns consumed in ten minutes.
Every July 4, contestants vie for significant monetary prizes and the coveted Mustard Belt in both the men’s and women’s categories. These brave souls have ten minutes to consume as many Nathan’s Hot Dogs and buns as possible.
Winning for his 16th men’s hot dog title today was American eating legend, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. He devoured 62 hot dogs and buns this year to retain his title. Chestnut’s world record of 76 hot dogs and buns consumed in 2021 will remain hard to eat.
Oops! I meant “beat”.
The women’s champion retained her title today as well. Miki Sudo downed 39.5 hot dogs in ten minutes on the Fourth of July today to claim her ninth Nathan’s championship.
In case you were wondering, each Nathan’s Hot Dog and bun is nearly 300 calories. Most Americans should consume about 2,000 calories per day (depending on your size and age). Today’s contestants surpassed that number after downing their seventh hot dog of the day!
During his record-setting year in 2021, Joey Chestnut (then 37 years of age) consumed 22,800 calories in only ten minutes. He ate the equivalent of 11 days of food in just ten minutes.
Now, where did I put that Alka-Seltzer?
The two winners of today’s Hot Dog Eating contest received $10,000 for first place. The runner-ups pocketed $5,000 for second place. All contestants get my sympathy!
How do you prepare for such an event?
Joey Chestnut says that he trains by fasting and stretching his stomach with milk, water, and protein supplements. He takes his preparation very seriously.
He said, “This sport isn’t about eating. It’s about drive and dedication, and at the end of the day, hot dog eating challenges both my body and my mind.”
The women’s champ, Miki Sudo, won her first Nathan’s Hot Dog eating event at age 20. She holds the current women’s record of 48.5 hot dogs in ten minutes.
She and her husband, Nick Wehry, entered again this year. The couple prepares together a few weeks before the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by trying to devour 90 hot dogs in ten minutes as a team.
Calling themselves “The Hungry Couple”, Miki and husband Nick have amassed nearly 50,000 subscribers to their You Tube channel. When not competing, the couple eats a healthy diet on most days. Both are dedicated gym rats to stay in shape.
What you may not know is that Joey “Jaws” Chestnut and female champ Miki Sudo hold several other eating records as part of an organization known as Major League Eating.
In 1997, two enterprising brothers named George and Richard Shea decided to found the International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. to organize and sanction competitive eating contests and help generate publicity. The group was renamed “Major League Eating” in the early 2000’s and stages events around North America to pit courageous gluttons for fame and prize money.
Including today’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, Major League Eating holds approximately 70 events annually. These contests generally coincide with other food-related festivals and celebrations staged around the country.
In the event you wish to enter one of their eating contests, the Major League Eating website reminds all entrants that you are assuming any and all risks associated with your participation.
“All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest”.
The current women’s hot dog champ Miki Sudo also holds Major League Eating records in a few other food items such as:
Ice cream – 16.5 pints of vanilla in 6 minutes (2017)
Wild rice – 14 pounds in 8 minutes (2019)
Corn dogs – 21 in 8 minutes (2022)
For his part, Joey Chestnut is also more than just the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating champion. He remains ranked as the world’s #1 professional eater in all of Major League Eating.
Here are some of Chestnut’s current eating records:
Apple Pie – 4.375 apple pies (3-pounds each) in ate (I mean, 8) minutes (2013)
Barbeque Beef Brisket Sandwiches – 27 H-E-B brisket sandwiches in 10 minutes (2019)
Burritos – 14.5 pounds of Illegal Pete’s Burritos in 10 minutes (2016)
Eggo Waffles – 81 in 8 minutes (2019)
Hard-boiled Eggs – 141 in 8 minutes (2013)
Krystal Hamburgers – 103 in 8 minutes (2007)
Ice Cream Sandwiches – 25 1/4 in just 6 minutes (2018)
Jalapeno Peppers – 118 in 10 minutes (2006)
Philly Cheesesteaks – 23 six-inch sandwiches in 10 minutes (2011)
Pork Ribs – 13.76 pounds in 12 minutes (2013)
Pulled Pork Sandwiches – 45 in 10 minutes (2007)
Shrimp Cocktail – 18 ½ pounds in 8 minutes (2018)
Taco Bell Soft Tacos – 53 in 10 minutes (2011)
Twinkies – 121 in 6 minutes (2013)
OK, enough is enough, right? Just the thought of trying to consume this much food in such a short-time may be causing a little nausea, but we must give this true glutton of a man his due.
It Tums as no surprise that Joey Chestnut is, indeed, one very accomplished eater!