Eating Competition
Competitive eaters, a new and increasingly celebrated breed of athlete, will gather at the Stockton Asparagus Festival in Stockton, CA on April 26, for the World Deep-Fried Asparagus-Eating Championship. The competition will commence at Noon. on the Main Stage at the Weber Point Event Center.
The field of eaters will be highlighted by rookie sensation and reigning asparagus-eating champion Joey Chestnut of San Jose, who shocked the world in his asparagus-eating debut last year by beating veteran Rich LeFevre. Chestnut recently challenged the great Takeru Kobayashi himself, leading the Japanese world champion during the first seven minutes of an eight-minute contest.
Sonya Thomas, the 100-pound eating phenom who is the number-one-ranked American eater will also compete at the event, as will rising newcomer Patrick Bertoletti and steak-eating specialist Rich LeFevre. A host of talented local competitors -- including Stockton resident Gregory Carr, San Jose resident Khoa Nguyen and Orange resident Gabe Zacuto -- will test their talents in the 10-minute, all-you-can-eat contest.
The event will feature deep-fried spears of Stockton asparagus. The winner will take home a cash prize of $1,500 and the beautiful champion’s trophy while second place will receive $500 and third place, $250.
“The Stockton Asparagus Festival is thrilled that the world’s greatest eaters will return to our city,” said Kate Lewis, executive director of the Stockton Asparagus Festival. “Eating contests, which can now be seen regularly on ESPN, are a fan favorite here at the festival.”
The Stockton Asparagus Festival is a three-day, multi-event, food and entertainment festival, which celebrates asparagus. The festival, held April 25-27, features three performance stages, an Asparagus Alley with the best deep-fried asparagus found anywhere, one of the finest celebrity chef cooking demonstration kitchens, a classic car show, a fabulous Spear-Its of the Valley wine and beer pavilion, a craft show, and exhibits by more than 70 food purveyors and 100 specialty merchandise vendors.
The International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), the governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 80 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY. The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 6,000 veteran and rookie athletes, travels the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide.
The competition is free to all contestants 18 and over, and limited to the first 12 contestants who sign up. Locals may consider it fun. The professional IFOCE competitors likely will have fun competing, too, but they take the contest seriously. For more information, visit www.asparagusfest.com.