Upcoming Chicago eating contests
Chicago eating challenges
(All Chicago eating challenges and contests in database)
DNAinfo has an article on the opening of Taco in a Bag in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. The restaurant owned by Pat Bertoletti and Tim Brown plans a five pound "Taco in a Trough" challenge. update April 24 DNAInfo reports that Taco in a Bag sold out of food on its day and had to shut temporarily today to prepare more food.
The Chicago White Sox are promoting pitcher Carlos Rodon to the major league baseball club. Last year, the left-hander did a podcast about his competitive eating fandom for the Cespedes Family Barbecast where he discussed which baseball players would have the best chance against Joey Chestnut.
The soft opening for the Lincoln Square location of Taco in a Bag will take place on Wednesday.
Registration is now open for a newly added Nathan's qualifier in Lincoln, NE at The Shoppes At Piedmont on June 20 and the Chicago Ribfest eating contest on June 12.
The eating contest at the Chicago Ribfest will take place on June 12. An amateur qualifier will be held the day before.
Juan "More Bite" Rodruiguez announces he finished the 8 pound sandwich challenge at Cheesie's Pub & Grub in Chicago.
TailgateFan.CBSLocal.com has an interview with Val "Valkyrie" Bromann, who currently has no eating contests or challenges planned.
In the second part of his video interview with Real Clear Politics, Pat Bertoletti discusses his rivalries with Joey Chestnut, Molly Schuyler and Sonya Thomas. He bills himself as the top male American independent competitive eater; Takeru Kobayashi is not mentioned. update Feb 20 Part 3 is available and is mainly about Taco in a Bag. The final date for that restaurant's West Dundee, IL location will be February 28.
Americas Bar & Grill in Hoffman Estates, IL will hold a Jello eating contest Thursday awarding $500 in cash and prizes.
Real Clear Politics recorded a video interview of Pat Bertoletti while driving around Chicago. He thinks that competitive eating has declined over the past five years and blames the hit or miss nature of contest publicity as the reason for the descent.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Pat Bertoletti ate 25 paczkis in 5 minutes at Bennison's Bakery in Evanston, IL to defend his title and take the first prize of $300.
Cy's King Crab will hold an oyster eating contest in Chicago on February 25 awarding $400 to the winner.
The Columbia Chronicle has an article on the move of Taco in a Bag to Lincoln Square in north Chicago. Co-owners Pat Bertoletti and Tim Brown do not have a set opening date but hope to start operating at the new location in April.
Tim "Gravy" Brown was the first person to finish the 35 taco challenge at Mercadito in Chicago.
The Chicago Sun Times has an article about the new Lincoln Square location for Taco in Bag. Co-owners Pat Bertoletti and Tim Brown are set to open the new site in March.
DNAInfo reports that Taco in a Bag will be moving to Lincoln Square in north Chicago after its lease expires in the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee, IL. Co-owner Pat Bertoletti calls his competitive eating career a "hamster wheel of bad life decisions".
The Chicago Hot Sauce Festival will hold an Italian Beef eating contest on July 25 or 26. The competition will be a MLE event.
Taco in a Bag announces that it will not be renewing its lease at the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee, IL when it expires at the end of February.
Crazy Legs Conti has a blog entry for the Huffington Post about Glutton Force Five and its owners, Pat Bertoletti & Tim Brown which reports they might be moving to a downtown Chicago location when their suburban mall lease expires.
The facebook page for Bartolini's in Midlothian, IL reports that Miki Sudo failed to break Molly Schuyler's record for the 10 pound meatball sub challenge. (via email)
Bartolini's Restaurant facebook reports that Juan "More Bite" Rodriguez attempted to break Molly Schuyler's record for the 10 pound meatball sub. (He did not succeed).
The 10 pound meatball sandwich at Bartolini's in Midlothian, IL was finished by Molly Schuyler in 7:57, breaking Pat Bertoletti's record of 9:20. Molly also set a new record of 2:13 for the Triple D pancake challenge at Rivers Edge Cafe in Sacramento.
Ellyn's Tap & Grill in Glen Allyn, IL will hold a tater tot eating contest on Saturday awarding an iPad.
Esquire has a blog entry about the closing of Hot Dougs with quotes from Pat Bertoletti, who ate 10 hot dogs for his final meal at the Chicago restaurant.
The First Look competitive eating episode that aired Saturday night on NBC can be viewed in full on line. The sites visited were an eating contest at Lucky's in Chicago overseen by Pat Bertoletti and Tim Brown, Jamie McDonald's restaurant, Bear's BBQ, Spread Bagelry in Philadelphia for a 14 pound bagel, and Big Mama's & Papa's in Los Angeles where a 54 inch pizza was attempted.