LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Saturday, August 18, the 12th Annual Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship—the West Coast’s premier eating competition—will host Major League Eating's top competitive eaters, where they will devour as many Day-Lee Pride gyoza (Japanese potstickers) as possible in 10 minutes.
In 2017, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut reclaimed his title as THE Gyoza World Champion, consuming 377 gyoza in competition. Geoffrey Esper took second with 317 while Matt “The Megatoad” Stonie landed in third place with 291. Rounding out 2017’s top five were Darron Breeden (250) and Miki Sudo (200). Chestnut set the current world record in the discipline in 2014 when he ate 384 gyoza in 10 minutes.
Competitors will be vying for a $6,000 cash purse. The roster includes: Chestnut (ranked #1 by Major League Eating [MLE]), Stonie (#3), Esper (#4), Sudo (#5), Gideon Oji (#6), Adrian Morgan (#7), Breeden (#8), Michelle Lesco (#9), Juan Rodriguez (#12), Rich LeFevre (#13), Erik Denmark (#15), Steve Hendry (#16), Pablo Martinez (# 17), Badlands Booker (#18), Derek Jacobs (# 21), Juan Neave (#23), Jon Bello (#30), and Sarah Reinecke (#36).
Day-Lee has been making their famous high-quality gyoza with generous filling, less dough, and no MSG for decades. Day-Lee Foods—who also makes line of authentic, premium-quality Asian food—will be again partnering with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and donating a case of product for every plate of 25 gyoza consumed in the contest. For every pound of gyoza eaten, 20 pounds of food will be donated to help alleviate hunger in Los Angeles. “Last year, we nearly tripled our case-per-plate commitment, and we look forward to giving back again this year,” said Craig Jaunzemis, Director of Marketing at Day-Lee Foods.
Taking place during the 78th Los Angeles Nisei Week Japanese Festival, the eating championship is hosted by the Nisei Week Foundation and sanctioned by MLE and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). The main event will take place at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) Plaza in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district. The JACCC Plaza is located at 244 S. San Pedro Street, LA, CA 90012. The main event will commence at 3:00 PM following the Little Tokyo Eating Championship amateur contest at 2:00 PM, the Crazy Cuizine Ninin Baori contest at 2:15 PM, and the LAPD vs. LAFD Gyoza Showdown at 2:30 PM.
"The Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship has been a mainstay event on our calendar for over a decade,” said Rich Shea, president of Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). “It’s been four years since Joey set the world record of 384 gyoza in 10 minutes, and the eyes of the world will turn their focus on Los Angeles to see if 2018 is the year that record is broken.”
Admission is free; limited seating and ample standing room will be available. The event will feature food, vendor booths, the Nisei Week Beer Garden, and post-contest entertainment. Additional information can be found online at Facebook (/GyozaChampionship), Twitter (@EatMoreGyoza), and Instagram (@EatMoreGyoza).
About Day-Lee Foods, Inc.
Day-Lee Foods, Inc., a leader in authentic Asian cuisine, manufactures two frozen food brands for retail and foodservice customers: Day-Lee Pride, a line of six different types of gyoza found in Asian and Japanese grocery stores throughout the U.S.; and Crazy Cuizine, a line of premium-quality Asian classics such as Mandarin Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken, Korean BBQ, and Chicken & Pork Potstickers.
About the Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship
The Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship is hosted annually by the Nisei Week Foundation at the Los Angeles Nisei Week Japanese Festival and sanctioned by Major League Eating (MLE) and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). Since 2006, the contest has quickly become a marquee event on the MLE calendar, attracting the best of the best to see who can eat the most Day-Lee Pride gyoza in 10 minutes.
About the 2018 Los Angeles Nisei Week Japanese Festival
The Nisei Week Japanese Festival is recognized as one of the longest-running ethnic festivals in the United States. It is a nine-day event that spans two weekends and celebrates Japanese and Japanese American culture with exhibitions, demonstrations, entertainment, food, and fun. All proceeds benefit the Nisei Week Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The 2018 festival will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 11-19. For more information, visit NiseiWeek.org.
