Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic by Leslie Kimmelman

Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture In America by Bruce Kraig. Hot Dogs & Croissants by Natasha Saulnier. Here are some books we have to get you into the hot dog spirit… Simply put, is there anything more American than watching sane (?) men & women gorge themselves on processed meat and bread? I think not. Talent? The next time you are at a bonfire and start feeling full after 2-3 wieners, run the numbers on 69 in 10 minutes. A “dog-off” (should it ever occur) between these two would stand next to Ali/Frazier & Red Sox/Yankees in the pantheon of sports rivalries. Apparently, eating can pay! In his wake rose the great Joey “Jaws” Chestnut (pictured below), who in 2013 consumed a record 69 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Rivalries/Competition? Years ago, Japanese competitor Takeru Kobayashi dominated the event…but was eventually dropped due to a contract dispute. Prize on the line? Yep…the prestigious “Mustard Belt”.

Some may say that this event isn’t considered a “sport”, but I would severely beg to differ, seeing as how it features the three main components of any sporting activity: Prestigious names like Ed “Cookie” Jarvis, “Eater X”, and Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas engage in an epic battle of stomachs. Set on the Fourth of July, when most Americans are out on the lake or otherwise enjoying the fruits of our great land, this gastronomical competition is what holds my attention all afternoon.

One day each year, both passions converge into one glorious event: the Coney Island (NY) Hot Dog Eating Championship.

Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic by Leslie Kimmelman