The Most Interesting Thing Joey Chestnut Has Devoured
If the name Joey Chestnut means anything to you, it's likely because you've seen his insane feats of throwing back Nathan's Hot Dogs like they are popcorn. While competitive eating in general — let alone scarfing down 75 hot dogs in 10 minutes (via New York Times) — may not be everyone's cup of tea, champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut has thrown down with far worse than just frankfurters. In fact, Nicki Swift details a recent zombie-themed event that Chestnut took part in where, instead of dogs or donuts, the delicacy was a bit more organ-ic.
In an interview with GQ, Chestnut described some of the weirdest items he's ever had to scarf down. Though the competitive eater mentions a kimchi eating contest in Korea that was a bit unusual, it wasn't the memory of fermented cabbage that has really stuck with him through the years. It was the time he had to eat cow's brain. Sesos, which are brains, are actually a common filling for tacos in Mexico, according to Atlas Obscura. The article goes into great detail about the method to extract the meat — usually from goats or cows — that is then braised or grilled.
There are actually some benefits to eating cow brain
During the zombie pub crawl in Minneapolis, Joey Chestnut managed to eat a whopping 54 brain tacos in an incredible eight minutes (via GQ). Though Chestnut thought the flavor wasn't bad, he also said it did leave a metallic taste in his mouth. In another interview with San Diego Union-Tribune, the competitive eater describes the sesos as being pretty good because of all the garlic seared in, yet in the same breath Chestnut used the term "veiny and gelatinous." Not exactly two words you want to hear when describing a dish. Let alone a dish you eat 54 times in a row.
Even if you're an adventurous eater, you may want to weigh the advantages and possible disadvantages of the old cow brain taco. Livestrong says that, on one hand, beef brain contains a type of omega-3 fatty acid that is not only good for possibly preventing cardiovascular disease, but may ironically even help brain function. On the other hand, there is the risk that this type of meat can be infected with mad cow disease, according to the article. Whatever the case may be for Joey Chestnut, even after choking down 54 of these tacos, at least we can be sure he hasn't turned into a real zombie — unless of course, he starts getting an insatiable appetite for brains.