Monday, July 4, 2011

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).


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

July03-nathans-weigh-in-012_display_image
"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


153959292_4004b9e4c0-730920_display_image
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.

Sonyathomas_display_image
Baked Beans - Sonya Thomas

Amount Eaten: 8.4 pounds (3.81 kg.) of Baked Beans
Time Elapsed: 2 minutes, 47 seconds


Dom_display_image_display_image
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


Oleg_display_image_display_image 


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.....


1 comment:

  1. 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.

    ReplyDelete