Steve Lupo shakes the hand of Joey (Jaws) Chestnut, who beat last year’s record during the Spiedie-Eating contest held on Aug. 8 at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Joey (Jaws) Chestnut consumed 14 spiedies in ten minutes.
“My Jaws hurt,” were the words of world champion speed-eater Joey (Jaws) Chestnut on Saturday evening as he consumed 14 half-pound Spiedie Sandwiches in ten minutes during the second annual Lupo’s Spiedie Eating contest held at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y.
The event, which welcomed 13 contenders hailing from all points north, south, east, and west around the United States was brought to Tioga Downs by Major-League Eating out of New York City, and presented by Lupo’s out of Endicott, N.Y.
Joey (Jaws) Chestnut of California uses his speed eating techniques during the Spiedie-Eating Contest held Aug. 8 at Tioga Down in Nichols, N.Y. Chestnut beat last year’s personal record by consuming 14 half-pound spiedies in ten minutes. Pictured on the left is Juan (Morebite) Rodriguez of Chicago, who finished second by consuming 11 3/4 half-pound spiedie sandwiches in ten minutes. Standing behind them is Kyle Messersmith of Tioga Downs, an organizer of the event.
The 10-minute contest, held between harness races taking place at Tioga Downs, attracted a large crowd of supporters of not only Joey (Jaws) Chestnut, but some locals who participated in this “stomach centric” eating event.
Prior to the beginning of the contest, Chestnut offered an insight into some of his champion eating techniques. The 31-year-old from San Jose, Calif. has held his speed-eating title for eight years now, in spite of a setback over the Fourth of July weekend, in Coney Island, N.Y.
According to Chestnut, the technique he uses involves building up the muscles in his esophagus. He also talked about breathing, and stated, “Once you are winded, you’re useless.”
To prepare for a contest, such as the one held Saturday at Tioga Downs, Chestnut said that once you begin, you have to try not to think… you have to focus on technique.
Joey (Jaws) Chestnut is closing in on the end of the Spiedie-Eating Contest held Aug. 8 at Tioga Down in Nichols, N.Y. Chestnut beat last year’s personal record by consuming 14 half-pound spiedies in ten minutes.
Chestnut also noted that his personal record was a contest in which he consumed 69 hot dogs in ten minutes. On Saturday, Chestnut beat last year’s Spiedie-Eating record by consuming 14 half-pound Spiedie Sandwiches in ten minutes. Last year Chestnut consumed 13 and 3/4.
Chestnut stated that the spiedie sandwiches are much harder to consume, specifically because they are a half-pound on a large roll.
A new contender to this year’s contest at Tioga Downs was Jeffrey Berish of Apalachin, N.Y.
Berish was the winner at the Spiedie Fest, eating three and a half Spiedie Sandwiches in their contest in five minutes, which earned him a spot in the Spiedie-Eating contest at Tioga Downs on Saturday. At Tioga Downs on Saturday, Berish ate five and a half Spiedie Sandwiches in ten minutes.
“When I participated at Spiedie-Fest in the contest, it was my first time ever,” said Berish. “I basically did it on a dare,” he added.
Jeffrey Berish of Apalachin, N.Y. participated in the Spiedie-Eating Contest held Aug. 8 at Tioga Down in Nichols, N.Y. Berish earned a spot in the Tioga Downs contest following his at the recent Spiedie Fest in which he consumed 3 1/2 spiedie sandwiches in three and a half minutes. According to Berish, he did it all on a dare.
Berish noted that after the Spiedie Fest contest he had an ice cream and then went and played golf. Berish also stated, “After this I will be retiring; I have nothing to prove.”
And the contest at Tioga Downs on Saturday wasn’t exclusive to men. Two women participated, with one of them being 51-year-old Larell Marie Mele of Long Pond, Pa. and the other being Daniella Gioia of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Mele said she has been speed-eating for five years now, with her personal record being 21 and 1/4 hot dogs in ten minutes. She also placed fifth recently at the Nathan’s Finals.
For Saturday, she stated her goals. “My mantra is don’t choke, don’t puke, and don’t come in last.”
Mele achieved two of those – she didn’t vomit, and she didn’t choke; but she did come in last.
A main contender who had his eyes set on a win on Saturday was Juan (Morebite) Rodriguez of Chicago.
Number ten in the world among hundreds, it was Rodriguez’s first time at attempting to speed-eat spiedies, with his personal record being the consumption of 32 hot dogs in ten minutes.
For Saturday’s contest, Rodriguez stated that he was just going to “zone out and focus on the food.”
In the end, Rodriguez placed second to Chestnut, consuming 11 and 3/4 Spiedie Sandwiches in ten minutes.
Juan (Morebite) Rodriguez uses his own speed eating technique during the Spiedie-Eating Contest held Aug. 8 at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Rodriguez finished second by consuming 11 3/4 half-pound spiedie sandwiches in ten minutes.
Geoffrey Esper, from Oxford, Massachusetts, placed third.
The contest in itself, with 13 contenders, was a thrilling show, with techniques utilized by Chestnut, one being called the corkscrew, and the gallons of water consumed to wash down the half-pound sandwiches while reaching for the title.
Rodriguez, who was of small stature, used a technique that appeared to shake the food through his esophagus and into his stomach, while Chestnut twisted the sandwiches into his conditioned esophagus, using water to push the food further.
In the end, and serving as emcee, Sam Barclay from Major-League Eating invited the crowd to join him in the countdown; participants were soaked with sauce and water, as Chestnut was reaching down for another sandwich.
And all contenders, although in it to win it, were up to the challenge. One contender, Eric (Badlands) Booker, even came out with a hip-hop tune to let people know he was one to watch out for.
The top prizes, though, went to Chestnut, who won $2,000 and a Lupo’s trophy; and Rodriguez, who earned $1,000.
Sam Lupo from Lupo’s Spiedies out of Endicott, N.Y. rolls up the banner that was displayed during the Spiedie-Eating contest held on Aug. 8 at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y.
For Lupo’s, out of Endicott, N.Y., they were thrilled to participate in the Spiedie-Eating Contest for a second year, and stated that they enjoy it.
Sam Lupo, who was busy packing up the gear and food they brought for the contest, stated that Joey [Chestnut] did well, and that it’s always a nice program.
To view video “bites” from the Aug. 8 contest at Tioga Downs, visit https://youtu.be/sSHGkffNfNw. Click here to view more photos, or Like the Owego Pennysaver on Facebook. You can also follow “Owego News” on Twitter.
To learn more about Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.
