Independence!

Happy Independence Day!!!


Here in The Good 'Ole U. S. of A., July 4th should always be remembered as the day our founding fathers ratified and approved The Declaration of Independence and removed themselves from under British rule.


However, two-hundred-thirty-five years later, most people see July 4th as an excuse for a barbecue (as if anybody really needed an excuse for a barbecue in the first place, sheesh!).


Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Apple Pie, and Gluttony Competitions.


What could possibly be more American??

Image : IFood.TV


Who needs independence when we have competitive eating competitions. Most people are familiar with the Nathan's Famous annual hot dog eating competition held every fourth of July on the boardwalk at Coney Island, in Brooklyn.

Last year's victory by Joey Chestnut of fifty-four (54) Nathan's Hot Dogs and Buns in ten
(10) minutes was very heroic but what else can he do?

Well, according to Major League Eating, the culinary body to end all culinary
bodies, the Nathan's competition is not the only game in town.

Hot dogs are great and all, but what about other things?

According to Major League Eating, here are some of the more lurid records that need to be broken :

Asparagus - Joey Chestnut

Amount Eaten: 9 pounds (4.08 kg.)
Time Elapsed: 10 minutes

NOTE : Not wanting to appear too healthy, Chestnut made sure the Asparagus was deep-fried, tempura style (I am not making this up).

Maui Onions - Eric Booker
Amount Eaten: 3 Maui Onions (these are sweet) 
Time Elapsed: less than a minute

"Hey Joey, I'll race ya!"

Pickled Jalapeño Peppers - Patrick Bertoletti

2007:

Amount Eaten: 191 pickled Jalapeño Peppers

Time Elapsed: 6.5 minutes

2010:

Amount Eaten: 275 pickled Jalapeño Peppers

Time Elapsed: 10 minutes

Butter - Don Lerman

Amount Eaten: 7 sticks of Butter

Time Elapsed: 5 minutes

Haggis - Eric Livingston

Amount Eaten: 3 pounds (1.36 kg.) of Haggis

Time Elapsed: 8 minutes

NOTE : "Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours." via WikiPedia.

Baked Beans - Sonya Thomas

Amount Eaten: 8.4 pounds (3.81 kg.) of Baked Beans

Time Elapsed: 2 minutes, 47 seconds

Beef Tongue - Dominic Cardo

Amount Eaten: 3 pounds, 3 ounces (3.42 kg.) of pickled beef tongue. Whole.Time Elapsed: 12 minutes

Cow Brains - Takeru Kobayashi

Amount Eaten: 17.7 pounds (8.03 kg.) of Cow Brains
Time Elapsed: 15 minutes

 

Mayonaisse - Oleg Zhornitskiy



Amount Eaten: 1 gallon (3.78 ltr.)

Time Elapsed: 8 minutes

But, by far, my personal favorite :

Richard LeFevre - SPAM

Amount Eaten : 6 pounds (2.72 kg.), from the can.
Time Elapsed : 12 minutes

Mr. LeFever's feat occurred on April 3, 2004.

Methinks that this record needs to be broken.....