Las Vegas Weekly

November 9, 2009 · 4:27 PM

Photo Gallery: Joey Chestnut wins inaugural meatball-eating contest

By Robin Leach

Steve Martorano and Joey "Jaws" Chestnut at Martorano's Masters Meatball Championship at Cafe Martorano in The Rio on Nov. 8, 2009.

Photo: TVT

Could you devour six pounds of spicy Italian meatballs in just 10 minutes? That’s 48 two-ounce taste treats balanced on knife and fork. At the first-ever Martorano’s Masters Meatball Championship in The Rio yesterday, 11 contestants sat down to see if it was possible.

Ten failed. Only one man was up to the task, as top-ranked Major League Eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut pulled off the coup thanks to two weeks of practice of eating nothing but meatballs morning, noon and night. Poker prince Phil Hellmuth was scheduled to compete but didn’t make the noon start because the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event play didn’t end up 6 a.m.

Chef and DJ Steve Martorano’s restaurant was packed with spectators and camera crews for the contest, with prizes totaling $3,000 (the winner received $1,500). Joey has won the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championship three consecutive years, and in July, he plans to retain the title by eating 70 hot dogs, two more than last year’s record 68.

“I chew just enough to swallow,” Joey told me. “The great taste and high quality of the meatballs were evident in every bite. I am honored to have my name forever associated with Martorano’s world-famous meatballs.”

Other contestants included 65-year-old Rich “The Locust” LeFevre, from nearby Henderson coming out of retirement, Chicago native Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti and 105-pound Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas. But most eyes were focused on Fantasy headliner Angelica Bridges, a former Baywatch and Playboy beauty.

The rules were simple: Only knives and forks were to be used out of honor and respect for Martorano’s meatballs. Purging meant an automatic disqualification. They all started with a two-pound plate of meatballs.

Restaurant owner Steve Martorano, who opened the proceedings throwing meatballs into the crowd and showing the winning medallion, said: “Besides my kids being born and Shaquille O’Neal giving me a ring when he won the championship, this is one of the most favorite moments in my life. Watching the best eaters in the world eat bowl after bowl of my meatballs was a real compliment.

Photo: TVT

Steve Martorano receives a kiss from Angelica Bridges during the Martorano's Masters Meatball Eating Championship at The Rio on Nov. 8, 2009.

“It was very important to me that they enjoy the meatballs during the championship, and I am proud my meatballs could satisfy the appetites of top Major League Eaters. I’m amazed at the amount they ate. I thought the way Joey was going at the start, he might hit 80. I’m watching this and all the excitement, and when they played the Rocky theme, I went back over my life and started to cry!”

Steve told me he uses a 75-year-old recipe that his grandmother taught him when she cooked for him. He said: “The secret recipe of the Steve Martorano meatballs is Italian love. Bottom line. We have veal, beef and pork in them, but you are going to have to wait till my book comes out, and that’s when you will get the recipe. At my Florida restaurant, we still cook the meatballs with the same pan that my grandmother cooked for us.”

Joey devoured his first four pounds of meatballs in the first four minutes to a lively soundtrack that included Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” and the theme from Rocky. Then he slowed down and it became a photo finish, with Joey recording six pounds and two two-ounce meatballs and Pat scoring six pounds but only one two-ounce meatball.

The results: Joey, 50 meatballs; Pat, 49; Sonya, 42; and Rich, 33. Angelica put a spin of victory on her 10 meatballs: That’s one pound, folks!

Photo: TVT

Angelica Bridges at Martorano's Masters Meatball Championship at Cafe Martorano in The Rio on Nov. 8, 2009.

“Angelica should be very proud of herself,” said Mike Antolini of Major League Eating. “She competed in a tough field and held her own. She is always welcome to the Major League Eating table, and I hope to see her again at next year’s Martorano’s Masters.”

Angelica told me: “I probably placed last. I didn’t even ask. But you know what? To me, I placed first because I have never eaten a pound of meat in my life. So for me, I have broken all records. … I’m so positive. I know I want to find a way to win it next time.

“I didn’t have any strategy. The only thing I planned was I told myself that if I was going to get sick, just stop eating because that would be so inappropriate for me to chuck on the table. I didn’t want to get disqualified, so I said if you start feeling sick, just slow down, be elegant and wear your gloves, use your knife and fork. This was my first-ever eating contest, and I’m definitely doing it again.”

Photo: TVT

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut raises his arms in victory after winning first place in Martorano's Masters Meatball Championship at Cafe Martorano in The Rio on Nov. 8, 2009.

Joey summed up his secret to success for me: “I love to eat -- there is no way around it. I love good food. I actually got a tummy ache from this today. We love to eat and I get into a good rhythm, and with good food like this, it wasn’t very hard. It was the first time, though, in a Major League Eating event I had to eat with knife and fork. There were a couple times I bit the fork and it slowed me down a bit. Once I got into the rhythm, I was able to maintain the lead. I could have kept going.

“I slowed down a little bit because these meatballs taste awesome because there is a rich flavor. Most people think I have never eaten so many flavors in one sitting in my life. There were so many good herbs and spices, so it was a little different for me. So next time, I build a tolerance. Next time, I will go up another pound at least. Easy eventually to go up to eight or nine pounds at one seating! Next time, I am sure I am going to plow through them faster than ever.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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— From Vegas Deluxe

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