Stockton festival welcomes top devourers

STOCKTON -- Joey Chestnut and Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti are considered titans in the world of competitive eating.

On April 26 the two will square off once again as featured competitors during the Stockton Asparagus Festival's ever-popular Deep-Fried Asparagus Eating Championship.

"The Stockton Asparagus Festival is elated to once again host the world's greatest eaters," Executive Director Kate Post said. "The eating contest is a fan favorite here, and we look forward to a dramatic battle between the two best eaters out there."

Both men have surpassed competitive eating legend Takeru Kobayashi in the national rankings, and have each defeated the other seven times during head-to-head matchups.

During their most recent competition in Houston, Chestnut edged out Bertoletti in matzo balls, eating 78 to Bertoletti's 76.

As per tradition, the event at the Asparagus Festival will feature the competitors eating locally grown thick, deep-fried asparagus.

The winner will take home $1,500 and a trophy.

The contest will be overseen by Major League Eating, the governing body of the "stomach-centric" sport, which conducts more than 80 events annually.

The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 6,000 veteran and rookie athletes, travels the nation in search of unique competitions.

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