California eating challenges and contests category

Parents: Regions » United States » California »
Children: Bakersfield (9) | Central California (23) | Fresno (57) | Inland Empire (71) | Lake Tahoe (9) | Long Beach (37) | Los Angeles (411) | Oakland (88) | Orange County (203) | Sacramento (122) | San Diego (161) | San Francisco (47) | San Jose (123) | Santa Rosa (13) | Stockton (91) | Upstate California (16) | Ventura County (18)
Related: Reno

Upcoming eating contests
eating challenges
(All California eating challenges and contests in database)
ContraCostaTimes.com reports that Lumpy Sturgill, owner of Lumpy's Diner who passed away in June, will be named Brentwood (CA) Citizen of the Year. The East Bay Area restaurant held an annual burger eating contest.

December 22, 2015 at 2:33 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Oakland | Permalink * Comments

2016 MLE schedule includes bacon & meat pies

December 2, 2015 at 10:36 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Biloxi, Dallas, Orlando, Stockton

Several 2016 contests are listed on the upcoming MLE schedule:

  • February 6, Chili, Orlando, FL $3500 purse – registration opens Dec 3
  • March 5, Meat Pies, Bay St. Louis MS $5000 purse – reg opens Jan 4
  • June 19 Bacon, Lathrop, CA $4000 purse – reg opens March 31
  • September 24, Tamales Lewisville, TX $3500 purse – reg opens July 22

Comments (3)

Pho Viet has a blog entry about the challenge at Pho Garden in San Francisco. Joey Chestnut has finished the challenge in 15 minutes, which is not the overall record of 13 minutes. There have been about 3000 attempts with a success rate of 7%.

November 18, 2015 at 7:15 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Noodle Eating Challenges, San Francisco | Permalink * Comments (2)

John Rivera has been announced as the winner in the eating contest at Chit Chat Pizza in Van Nuys, CA. Jon Bello was the runner up and Jimmy Lin was 3rd.

November 9, 2015 at 11:38 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Los Angeles, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (2)

Stephanie Wu reports that Chit Chat in Van Nuys, CA has extended its pizza eating contest. The three fastest times as of November 7 will win $250/$100/$50. Jimmy Lin and Kevin Ross are the current leaders.

November 6, 2015 at 8:19 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Los Angeles, Prizes, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (8)

Grantland.com competitive eating content

November 3, 2015 at 1:05 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2011 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Barbecue Eating Challenges, Los Angeles, Matt Stonie, Women

ESPN terminated its Grantland.com sports / pop culture website on Friday. Here are the competitive eating articles it published, read them while they are still in the archive if you are interested

  • June 2011, Patrick Michels on the inaugural Nathan’s women’s finals
  • July 2012, “Cousin” Sal Iacono on his attempt at an eating challenge in 1993
  • July 2013 Carles’ writeup of Honey Boo Boo episode where the star’s sister attempted the Pigzilla barbecue sandwich challenge at Papa Buck’s BBQ in Metter, GA
  • August 2013 Danny Chau asks “Can Matt Stonie Bring About a New Golden Age in Competitive Eating?”
  • August 2014, Danny Chau’s report on competing in the Little Tokyo gyoza contest

Comments (1)

The Auburn (CA) Journal has an article about the "No. 25 Thai Hot" challenge at David's Thai Cuisine which will be terminated after owner David Voraphongphibul sells his business.

October 29, 2015 at 11:46 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Sacramento, Spicy Eating Challenges | Permalink * Comments

Takeru Kobayashi defends Chronic Tacos title

October 24, 2015 at 7:25 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Kobayashi (小林尊), Los Angeles, Unafilliated Contests

update Nov 12 LA Taco has a contest report

update Nov 2 Hedonist Shedonist has a contest report

update Oct 31 LA Wonders has a contest report claiming Pat Bertoletti won $1000

update Oct 25 Erik Lamkin has a contest video

Results from Erik Lamkin

1st 144 Takeru Kobayashi new record
2nd 114 Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti
3rd 81 Erik “The Electric” Lamkin
4th 67 Edward Chin
5th 63 Kevin Ross
6th 50 Naader “Freak8r” Reda

Takeru Kobayashi ate 144 tacos in 10 minutes to defend his title at the Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce taco eating contest at Chronic Tacos in Redondo Beach, CA. Pat Bertoletti was the runner up with over 100.

Kobayashi vs. two pregnant women Friday on CBS Los Angeles

Comments (11)

Molly Schuyler ate a large stuffed pizza by herself in 5:02 to win a contest at Chicago Fire Pizza in Sacramento on Monday. The competition was for two person teams.

October 23, 2015 at 3:34 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Molly Schuyler, Sacramento, Team Contests, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (1)

Bleacher Report produced a video of San Diego Chargers linebacker Brock Hekking reportedly eating 21,396 calories in 43 minutes at Phil's BBQ in San Diego.

October 15, 2015 at 11:02 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Calorie Challenges, Male Athletes, San Diego | Permalink * Comments (11)

Jon Davis reports that Molly Schuyler won last night's burger eating contest at Lumpy's Diner in Antioch, CA with a total of 19.5 burgers. Picture with trophy and novelty check update Oct 12 East County Today has a gallery

October 11, 2015 at 10:09 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Molly Schuyler, Oakland, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (1)

Chit Chat Restaurant in Van Nuys, CA is currently holding a pizza eating contest that will close on October 29. The fastest 3 times on that date will receive $400 ($250 to the fastest).

October 5, 2015 at 11:27 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Los Angeles, Prizes, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments

2015 Elk Grove pumpkin pie eating contest

October 4, 2015 at 5:46 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Joey Chestnut, Sacramento

update Oct 7 The Elk Grove Citizen has a contest report

Results part 1 | part 2 | part 3

Elk Grove Citizen has a video

1st 18.25 Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
2nd 13.75 Miki Sudo
3rd 8 Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco
4th 7.75 Steve Hendry
5th 7.5 Erik “The Red” Denmark
6th 7 Pablo Martinez
7th 3.25 Mark Allen
7th 3.25 Lesley Ryder
7th 3.25 Joel Steinberg
10th 3 Jon Davis
11th 2.75 “Officer” Farinha
11th 2.75 Jesse O’Con
13th 2.5 “Chief” Apple
14th 1.75 Barbara LaBarge

Comments (46)

LA.eater.com reports that Takeru Kobayashi will defend his title at the Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce taco eating contest at Chronic Tacos in Redondo Beach, CA on October 24.

October 2, 2015 at 2:52 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Kobayashi (小林尊), Los Angeles | Permalink * Comments (5)

LosAngeles.craigslist.org has a casting call requesting competitive eaters for a new television show that will record October 5 in Woodland Hills, CA.

September 29, 2015 at 7:17 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Los Angeles, Television | Permalink * Comments (3)

The San Francisco Chronicle has an account of an eating contest held in the 1840s between Russian Don Andres Hoeppner and Jean Jacques Vioget, owner of a saloon in Yuerba Buena, CA (which would later be known as San Francisco).

September 28, 2015 at 11:59 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:San Francisco | Permalink * Comments (4)

Lumpy's Diner in Antioch, CA will hold a burger eating contest on October 10 awarding $1350 ($1000 to the winner).

September 27, 2015 at 11:20 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Oakland, Prizes, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (1)

The field for the Elk Grove (CA) Giant Pumpkin Festival World Pumpkin Pie-Eating Championship on October 4 has been announced: Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo, Erik Denmark and Pablo Martinez. Matt Stonie will apparently miss the competition.

September 18, 2015 at 3:05 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Previews, Sacramento | Permalink * Comments (9)

Miki Sudo profile in Maxim

September 15, 2015 at 3:45 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Los Angeles, Miki Sudo, Women

Maxim has a long profile of Miki Sudo focusing on last month’s gyoza contest titled Competitive Eating’s Fastest Rising Star Has Nowhere to Go But Down (Gideon Oji, Geoff Esper, Leslie Ryder or Nela Zisser probably deserve that accolade)

This is probably the most interesting new revelation about Miki’s background in the article:

Sudo has always been drawn to the quirkier sides of life. Her Japanese immigrant father and American mother met while working at a travel agency in New York City in the seventies, one they would come to inherit after the owners of the company left the country after getting into trouble with the Mafia — a fact she shares as if it’s an everyday occurrence to come to own a travel agency because of la cosa nostra. Her father moved the family to Japan when she was five, where they lived for seven years.

Miki’s rival for the top American female competitive eater, Molly Schuyler, is not mentioned in the article.

Comments (15)

The Tulare County Fair will hold a corn dog eating contest in Tulare, CA on September 18 awarding $800 ($500 to the winner).

September 11, 2015 at 10:13 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Fresno, Prizes, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (5)

The Sacramento Tamales festival will hold an eating contest for amateurs only on September 12 awarding $1500 ($1000 to the winner).

September 10, 2015 at 7:52 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Prizes, Sacramento, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (3)

A pizza eating contest will be held at the World's Largest Pizza Festival in Beverly Hills tomorrow. Recording artists 2 Chainz and Tyga will perform at the event, which has an entrance fee of $1000.

September 3, 2015 at 11:51 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Los Angeles, Music | Permalink * Comments (3)

Erik "The Electric" Lamkin reports he ate 8 pounds of yogurt in 4:06 to break Damon Wells' record for Red Cup Yogurt's contest in Oceanside, CA. Since no one else finished all their yougurt, Erik claimed the entire purse of $300.

August 23, 2015 at 9:38 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Erik Lamkin, San Diego, Unafilliated Contests | Permalink * Comments (37)

2015 Nisei Week gyoza contest

August 22, 2015 at 2:52 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Results, Los Angeles, Mary Bowers, Matt Stonie

>update Aug 29 Rafu Shimpo has a contest report

update Aug 28 LA Weekly has a contest report by last place finisher Matt Ralston and a video

update Aug 25 LAist has a gallery

classicalmucia1an and Mikey Mouse have videos

Psycho Gourmet has a contest report

Results Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

1st 343 Matt “Megatoad” Stonie
2nd 339 Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
3rd 178 Miki Sudo
4th 175 Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan
5th 170 Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco
6th 169 Rich “The Locust” LeFevre
7th 145 Steve Hendry
8th 142 Erik “The Red” Denmark
9th 129 “The Lovely” Juliet Lee
10th 125 Eric “Badlands” Booker
11th 109 Josh Miller
12th 107 Pablo Martinez
13th 94 “Nasty” Nathan Biller
14th 77 Carlene LeFevre
15th 69 Lesley Ryder
16th 58 Rowell Marcos
17th 49 Mary “I Love ’em HOT!” Bowers
18th 8 Ralston

Rafu Shimpo has a contest preview
KPCC has an interview with Mary Bowers

Matt Stonie is working on the 1st IFOCE/MLE undefeated calendar year since Kobayashi in 2006. (Joey Chestnut never went the first six months of the year without at least one loss.

Previous gyoza winners

2014 Aug 16 1st 384 10 min Joey “Jaws” Chestnut Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA
2013 Aug 17 1st 268 10 min Matt “Megatoad” Stonie Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA
2012 Aug 18 1st 266 10 min Joey “Jaws” Chestnut Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA
2011 Aug 20 1st 264 10 min Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti Day-Lee/Nisei Week Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA
2010 Aug 21 1st 189 10 min “Big” Ben Monson Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA
2009 Aug 22 1st 181 10 min Joey “Jaws” Chestnut Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA
2008 Aug 23 1st 231 10 min Joey “Jaws” Chestnut Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA
2006 Aug 19 1st 212 10 min Joey “Jaws” Chestnut GoldenPalace.net World Gyoza Eating Championship Los Angeles, CA

Comments (14)

The Daily News has a preview of Saturday's Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship in Los Angele.

August 20, 2015 at 11:46 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Contest Previews, Joey Chestnut, Los Angeles, Mary Bowers, Matt Stonie | Permalink * Comments (4)

« Previous Page · Next Page »