HOT DOG DAY AFTERNOON

New York - While people across America were celebrating the birth of a nation, competitive food eating contestants were slamming down hot dogs by the handful yesterday in Nathan's famous Coney dog-eating competition. The winner ate 54 hot dog to retain his title.
Joey Chestnut won the Nathan's Famous July Fourth International Eating Contest by eating 54 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Janus Eater consumed 43 for second place, with Patrick Bertoletti eating 37 to take third place.
The "Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest" matches up 20 competitive food eaters in a hot dog-eating frenzy that begins with the contestants standing behind a 30-foot table at Nathan's flagship restaurant on Surf Avenue in Coney Island. At high noon in hundred degree temperatures the competitors to begin the historic 10-minute contest.
According to Nathan's archives, the Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest was first held in 1916, the year Nathan's opened on Surf Avenue. The contest has been held each year since then, except in 1941, when it was canceled as a protest to the war in Europe, and in 1971, when it was canceled as a protest to civil unrest and the reign of free love.

Major League Eaters encourages amateurs to join the contests and battle the veteran eating champions at this and other competitions held world-wide. MLE sponsors eating contests ranging from hot dogs, fries, pizza, burgers and more in many major cities.