I don’t tell a lot of people this, but I’ve won a hot dog eating contest. While recording a podcast years ago, competitive eater Crazy Legs Conti taught me three different methods to break down the dogs, dipping the buns in water (soaked buns squish more easily). By the end of our lesson, I inhaled 3 hot dogs in 2 minutes, finishing just seconds before my competition coworker. It wasn’t pretty.
Conti told me competitive eaters don’t look at food the same way as those of us who aren’t timed. They’re calculating exactly how long it takes to transport fork to mouth, then how many chews per mouthful. It’s more science than art.
(via Food52)
