They walk among us, these titans of caloric consumption: construction workers and school superintendents, farmers and accountants.
The difference is that every July 4, the best of them flock to Coney Island for the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Last month, Joey Chestnut, the contest’s 16-time champion, was barred from competition after signing an endorsement deal with Impossible Foods.
Immediately after the news broke, it was announced that he would go head-to-head with his longtime rival, Takeru Kobayashi, in a Netflix special — “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef” — to air live on Sept. 2.
(Mr. Kobayashi, who holds the world record for downing bunless hot dogs, has not been allowed to compete in the contest since 2010, owing to a contract dispute with Major League Eating, the governing body of the Nathan’s event.)
Persons:
Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi, Kobayashi
Organizations:
Impossible Foods, Major League
Locations:
Coney Island