Eater: So, are you the official photographer?
Your SA Adventurer: No, I’m just a big competitive eating fan.
Guy: I’m not going to lie. That’s kind of weird.
A few weeks ago the Matteson, Illinois Sam’s Club hosted a hot-dog eating contest which served as one of the qualifying rounds for the big Fourth of July competition. It’s not often that there is an official IFOCE (International Federation of Competitive Eating) contest anywhere near Chicago, so when there is you know I’m there.
The way these qualifiers work is that there are usually one or two ranked or emerging competitors with the rest being locals who just want to try it out. While I was waiting I walked around for a bit to talk to some of the people because, hey, why not? No one had any clue how much they’d eat and I think everyone thought I was a reporter at first and then thought I was crazy when I said I was just a fan. Yes, yes, I think I am officially a groupie :)
The event started out with a “neat” eating contest for youngins where they each got a hot dog with ketchup and had to eat it without getting anything on them. Heck, I certainly can’t do that. After that was the main event.
One by one the competitors took their places, prepared their drinks of choice, and were handed a plate full of hot dogs. In the middle, in the prime position, was Tim “Gravy” Brown, the number 13-ranked eater and obvious frontrunner. Next to him was a newcomer Patrick Vandam who had only competed in 3 or 4 competitions thus far.
The countdown began and they were off. The two in the middle gobbled down while everyone else took their time. Actually, after a few minutes many of them kind of just stopped eating and started watching Pat and Tim battle it out. It was pretty fierce. Patrick began edging out Tim, being passed plate after plate of hot dog.
It wasn’t the sheer speed or the commonly-used shaking technique that surprised me about this newcomer. It was his level of cleanliness. Seriously, I think he would have cleaned up (no pun intended) in that neat eating contest. I’ve met some of these eaters right after a competition before, and let me tell you, it’s not always pretty. They usually are kind of sweaty and covered in water/juice/milk and have food particles all over. He had no crumbs. Almost nothing. It was pretty insane.
Anyways…as the final moments ticked down it was slightly unclear who would win. But in the end the upset was announced: Tim Brown with 28, Patrick Vandam with 31. Not bad not bad.
Everyone else I’d talked to said they’d eaten about 7. One guy said he had one.
It was a totally awesome contest. I’m really trying to make it out to Coney Island in New York for the grandest of all competitive eating events on the Fourth of July. I can’t wait, and will be sure to report back.
Event: Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Qualifier
Location: Sam’s Club, 21430 S. Cicero Ave., Matteson, IL
Date: May 17, 2008
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