Eating Competitively

By Wendy Chan

Being the only child in the family, I rarely had to “fight” for food at the family table growing up. I was introduced to all types of (adult) foods since early childhood, and thankfully, my mother was a pretty good cook. I got along very well with my cousins, my usual playmates, who shared many a meals together. There was hardly any physical incident that was worth remembering, let alone one that involved food. But there sure was one for the record book.

A 2-year younger male cousin, Alex, and I got entangled in some serious pushing and shoving when I was about 8. It was over some delicious steamed shrimps. Those super delicious sweet shrimps flashed cooked, that you have to shell and dip into a soy sauce with scallion – were to die for. I was quite well trained in shelling, but so was he. So when I was not getting my “fair share”, with my cousin Alex grabbing the last from the dish with brut force, I reacted! Reacted strongly – put it this way.

Who would have known that competitive eating is now a sport! Thanks to Nathan’s Hotdog Eating Competition, we now have a slew of eating contests held across the country, with “athletes” (are they really athletes?) trained to compete for both prize money and bragging rights – and the coveted 15 minutes of fame. Takeru Kobayashi and now Joey Chestnut, are household names for national (international in the case of Kobayashi) eating contest champions, idolized much like other pop stars. Well, Americans love competition!

Some people may dispute that such contests are publicity stunts that may not do justice to the food item – which is designed to be devoured in the arena as a spectator sport. However, I think the popularity of such contests is a good indicator of what foods are widely accepted. I’d happily register to compete in shrimp, lobster or crab eating contests.

The annual Dumpling Eating contest sponsored by Chef One Dumplings, a leading brand manufactured by TMI Food Group based in Brooklyn, New York, has stood out as a significant milestone for an Asian food product. This event has now grown to attract top ranking competitive eating athletes from all over the country, and this year, the 5th Annual is going to be held on Sunday, August 3, at the Flushing Meadow Corona Park, in Queens, New York. There will even be live call-ins by ESPN Radio! The huge followings and fans of some of these contestants will be cheering on, to see if returning champion and seasoned dumpling eater Joe Menchetti will be able to hold on to his title (60 dumplings).

Dumplings are really ideal stadium food, convenient and fun to eat, and healthier too. In fact, Chef One dumplings are now the official dumpling of the Brooklyn Cyclones! It may be eating Hot Dog’s lunch. The next extreme contest may be….. Hot Dog vs. Dumpling in an All Gloves Off fight at the stadium.

For more information about the August 3 eating contest event, please visit http://www.twinmarquis.com/chefone/contest_poster.html.

For a video of last year’s ladies’ dumpling eating contest, please check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGRINgcEits.