Location: Stockton, CA
Registration has closed for this contest
In a tradition like none other, MLE's Veggie Weekend will kick-off in northern California at The 27th Annual Stockton California Asparagus Festival on Saturday, April 28th. The World Deep-Fried Asparagus Eating Championship will take center stage when the world's best eaters feast on think-cut fried asparagus spears.
The world's best eater, Joey Chestnut, has won this event six times over the past seven years. Last year, he ate 9 lbs 5.2 oz of deep-fried asparagus to set a new world record. History will be staring him in the face once again as he looks to take yet another walk through Asparagus Alley to capture an unprecedented seventh title in Stockton.
An emerging MLE storyline has been the instant success of another San Jose native, Matt "megatoad" Stonie. While Stonie hasn't found a way to upset the champ, he's getting closer and closer with each passing contest. Finishing third in Stockton in 2011, you can bet that Stonie will be back for another shot at the famed Asparagus Crown that sits atop the champion's head.
PRIZE PAYOUTS 1st-$1,500 2nd-$750 3rd-$500
The 27th Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival, called the Best of the West Food Fest by Sunset magazine, is a three-day, multi-event, food and entertainment festival that celebrates asparagus. The festival, held April 27-29, features three performance stages, an Asparagus Alley with delicious deep-fried asparagus, a celebrity chef cooking demonstration kitchen, a fabulous Spear-Its of the Valley wine and beer pavilion, and exhibits by more than hundreds of food purveyors and 100 specialty merchandise vendors. The festival is the largest charitable food festival in California. Over 5,000 volunteers representing over 100 non-profit organizations work to make it a huge success. To date over $5.1 million has been donated to local charities. CLICK HERE for more information on The 27th Annual Stockton California Asparagus Festival.
Follow The Stockton Asparagus Festival on twitter @AsparaFest.
LAST YEAR'S RESULTS 1-Joey Chestnut - 9 lbs 5.2 oz fried asparagus in 10 minutes ($1,500) 2-Pat Bertoletti - 7 lbs 3.5 oz ($750) 3-Matt Stonie - 6 lbs 12 oz ($500) 4-Adrian Morgan - 6 lbs 6 oz 5-Erik Denmark - 5 lbs 6-Kevin Ross - 4 lbs 12 oz 7-Cameron Birdwell - 4 lbs 8-Ryan McKillop - 3 lbs 2 oz
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*All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.