Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest Winner: 22 Lbs., 8 Minutes

MATTITUCK, NY — History was made in Mattituck Saturday as Carmen Cincotti, the #2 competitive eater in the world, took home the title at the Mattituck Lions Club World Strawberry Shortcake Eating Championship after slamming back 22 lbs. of shortcake in a jaw-stretching, belly-busting eight minutes.

The competition, which took place at the 64th Annual Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival, was back for the first time since 2008. The event was presented by Major League Eating, and featured a $3,500 total prize purse.

Geoffrey Esper, ranked #4 in the world of professional gurgitators, came in second , and Gideon Oji took the third place spot.

Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, emceed the event.

Make no mistake: Competitive eating is serious business. The world of competitive eating was rocked on its proverbial axis when Takeru Kobayashi, of Japan, made headlines on July 4, 2001, eating 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes at the Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest and shattering the previous record of 25.

Cincotti, of Newark, has been competing for three years. Born on July 4, he said he always watched the Coney Island competition, especially after Kobayashi soared to the stratosphere of salivary success.

"I just wanted to be a part of it," he said.

In his first competition ever, Cincotti said he did "poorly," wolfing down a mere 13 hot dogs. But last year, he won his current second place title in Coney Island, scarfing down a staggering 60 hot dogs in 10 minutes and winning $10,000.

When asked how he remained trim, Cincotti laughed. "I don't eat this way all the time," he said; he goes to the gym four to times a week and eats a balanced diet —usually.

His most unusual food competition? "Kale," he said. "It was unusual because it was healthy."

The competitors sat talking and laughing before the showdown. Eric "Badlands" Booker of Selden, who's been wolfing down food challenges in the competitive eating arena since 1997, is ranked 18th in the world. He gave some insight into what fuels the passion for the man versus food thrill.

In June, 1997, Booker said he'd take his wife and kids to Nathan's in Oceanside, spending the day enjoying hot dogs and fries and the arcade. One day, he saw a poster of Uncle Sam, hot dog in hand, saying "I want you!", advertising a hot dog eating competition.

"I thought, 'I want to do this,'" Booker said, adding that back then, competitions weren't nearly as popular as they are now.

He spoke to George Shea, Richard's brother, and history was made. In his first competition, he said, he got some heated rivalry from an opponent who tried to intimidate him by saying he could eat 30 Whoppers, asking how much Booker could eat. "I told him, 'Sometimes I have seconds at dinner,'" he laughed.

But his overly confident opponent fell to Booker, who ate 17 hot dogs with buns in 12 minutes, winning the qualifying round that opened the door to his first competition at Nathan's in Coney Island on July 4. At that event, he won a trophy — and a year's supply of hot dogs, 60 lbs. ,or 480 links. "I just did it for the hot dogs," he said.

Rookie George Chiger, who used to body build competitively, said he welcomes the friendly camaraderie shared by competitive eaters. Booker, he said, shares his tips, such as soaking the buns in water before a hot dog competition, to get the air out. "This guy," he said, pointing to Booker, "has taken me to the next level."

Booker said there is science and technique involved in professional eating. "You have to be more than a buffet buster," he said.

And after 21 years in the sport, Booker, a subway conductor by day, is happy to share his knowledge, looking to Bruce Lee, who believed in imbuing others with his gifts. "I teach them whatever they want to know," he said.

As the competitive eating area continues to heat up, Booker, known for his records in corned beef hash consumption, among other titles — just don't ask him about cow brains, his most nauseating challenge — sees an opportunity to one day even give up his day job and pursue his gut-busting passion full time. "The future is bright," he said, with a winning smile. "I love this."

Patch photos, video by Lisa Finn.