PLYMOUTH — It’s Independence Day and one Englishman has his eyes set on beating Americans at their own game — the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York.
He came to Northeast Pennsylvania to practice and “train” for the Fourth of July gluttony tradition aired live on ESPN.
Max Stanford, a competitive eater from London known as “Max vs. Food” on social media, recently visited Uncle Bucks BBQ in Plymouth to take on its 10-pound “Monster Pizza Challenge” to expand his stomach further for the hot dog competition.
It’s usually a two-person team competition that few have accomplished since the contest’s inception years ago.
Stanford, 37, who weighs about 175 pounds — or 81 kilos as the British say — ate it all by himself in less than 24 minutes. Normally, teams get 45 minutes to conquer the difficult challenge — and few have done so.
“I was kind of surprised I was able to do it. A couple of my buddies were able to do it as a team, so I figured I would try it,” Stanford said.
Stanford’s fiancée has a good friend from Wilkes-Barre, so they spent time in the area for a few days before going to New York for the hot dog challenge. But it’s not a vacation. He’s here on business — if you want to call it that.
He’s been eating more food in a sitting than most people do in a week.
“I’ve been practicing eating a lot of hot dogs,” Stanford said. “I always thought the famous hot dog contest in Coney Island is the pinnacle of competitive eating.”
Max Stanford, middle, a competitive eater from London known as "Max vs. Food" on social media, took part in Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, in 2024. (Submitted)
Stanford, who holds many competitive eating records in England, competed in the 2024 hot dog competition, finishing ninth after eating 32 hot dogs.
He recently qualified for the Coney Island finals after eating 37 hot dogs at an event in Ohio.
Stanford knows he has no chance to win the hotdog contest, which awards tens of thousands of dollars to the top finishers.
Especially because the hot dog eating king Joey Chestnut is returning this year after not participating last year. Chestnut, a 16-time champion, has a record of 76 dogs consumed during the contest.
Stanford doesn’t mind.
He said competitive eating isn’t as popular in the United Kingdom, where he is one of the best.
“I want to be the best European in the contest,” Stanford said.
Stanford also said he was very excited to meet Chestnut, who is the odds-on favorite to regain his hot dog-eating title.
He joked he looked up his odds on online betting markets, and he was about 800-1.
Stanford said he enjoyed his Uncle Bucks pizza, which he got with peppers and sausage.
Those who devour the Monster Pizza Challenge get the $54.99 pizza for free, T-shirts and a $54.99 gift card to Uncle Bucks.
Wayne Shwartz, manager of Uncle Bucks, said he was possibly going to increase the challenge,
“Looks like I’m going to have to up the ante,” Shwartz said. “A 12 pound monster pizza is coming soon.”