Pizza Becomes a Faster Food

Chestnut faced off with top-rated Chicago contender, Pat Bertoletti, and the two top eaters who both hold previous pizza titles battled it out in the 14-inch pizza class at the Pizza Hut Chow-lenge. The Mohawk-adorned Bertoletti was able to wolf down a respectable 36.5 slices in 10 minutes, but could not match Chestnut’s 40+ slice feat. To put the accomplishment into perspective, both ate the equivalent of more than five 14-inch pies in their allotted time. That’s like eating 5 pizzas in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette. Table manners definitely took a back seat in the event though, with both Chestnut and Bertoletti employing a “crush and shove” method of pizza gulping. Not too pretty, but apparently effective.

Congratulations are in order as Joey “Jaws” Chestnut is now the current number-one-ranked competitive eater in the world. Last year he became the top hot dog eater by consuming 68 hot dogs and buns in less than ten minutes, and now he adds the 14-inch pizza eating crown to his collection. Bertoletti is ranked as the number four eater in the world and currently holds the 24-inch pizza title as well as the 16-inch pizza gobbling crown. The Pizza Hut Chow-lenge took take place in Sony Studios at the Guys' Choice Awards for Spike TV in Los Angeles.