What happens when a man who can consume 53 and 3/4 hot dogs in 12 minutes meets a giant hamantasch?
That’s the question that confronted famed competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi — a previous record-holder in the prestigious Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest — when he dropped by Yeshiva University in New York City yesterday and discussed, among other things, his belief in mindful eating.
“I’m a competitive eater but also a foodie,” Kobayashi said at the event, organized by Y.U.’s Stern College for Women Chemistry Club. “I enjoy food more than the average person. When I’m not competing, I like to focus on the atmosphere, the taste and texture of food, and I eat very small amounts.”
After taking some questions, Kobayashi took a bite of a giant hamantasch, but he didn’t go for any records. (He was, however, a champ when it came to charity, donating his speaking fee for the event to Masbia, a New York nonprofit that runs kosher soup kitchens.)
If Kobayashi enjoyed his taste of the Purim delicacy, he may want inquire into the upcoming First National Hamantaschen Eating Contest, sponsored by El Al in New York on March 8.
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That event “will result in the first ever National Hamantaschen Eating Record,” said, Todd “The Hungry Genius” Greenwald, chairman of All Pro Eating and the event’s emcee.
The contest’s press release states: “Non-professional eaters interested in participating can submit a video on the EL AL Facebook page demonstrating their eating abilities (the more creative, the better!).”
While this event may be conferring the first-ever national record for hamantaschen consumption, it won’t be the first hamantaschen-eating contest. Nor, it’s safe to say, will it be the cutest. That record goes to this one:
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