Food competitions come in all shapes and sizes. Some reward speed, others test endurance, and a few leave people wondering who came up with the idea in the first place. Around the world, communities have turned local foods and traditions into events that attract competitors, spectators, and plenty of curious visitors.
Here are 14 of the world’s most unusual food competitions.
World Slugburger Eating Championship – Mississippi, USA
Don’t let the name fool you, there aren’t any slugs involved.
A slugburger is a deep-fried beef patty mixed with inexpensive fillers like soy flour or breadcrumbs, a recipe that dates back to the Great Depression. During the championship, contestants have 10 minutes to eat as many slugburgers as possible, with top competitors finishing an astonishing number in a single sitting.
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Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling – Gloucestershire, England
This famous event isn’t about eating cheese, it’s about chasing it.
Competitors sprint after a nine-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese as it races down an incredibly steep hill. The cheese almost always wins, while participants often tumble, roll, and slide all the way to the bottom.
La Tomatina – Buñol, Spain
La Tomatina is less of an eating contest and more of a giant food fight.
Every year, thousands of people flood the streets of Buñol and throw truckloads of overripe tomatoes at one another. By the time it’s over, the streets are covered in tomato pulp and everyone is equally messy.
World Nettle Eating Championship – Dorset, England
Most people avoid stinging nettles. Competitors at this event do the exact opposite.
Participants strip the leaves from raw nettle stalks and eat as many as they can within the time limit. The plant’s tiny stinging hairs make the challenge much tougher than it sounds.
Fugu Eating Challenge – Japan
Fugu, or pufferfish, is famous because parts of the fish contain a deadly toxin.
Only specially licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it, making it one of the world’s most carefully regulated dishes. Eating fugu has become something of a culinary badge of honor for adventurous diners, though safety remains the top priority.
Crocodile Egg Eating Contest – Pattaya, Thailand
At Thailand’s Pattaya Crocodile Farm, contestants race to eat ten crocodile eggs as quickly as possible.
The unusual texture alone makes this competition difficult, and finishing every egg is harder than many competitors expect.
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World Kimchi Eating Championship – Chicago, USA
Kimchi’s bold flavor and spicy kick make this contest anything but ordinary.
Competitors have just a few minutes to eat as much of the fermented Korean side dish as they can. For anyone who enjoys spicy food, it’s an exciting challenge. For everyone else, it’s tough just to watch.
Acme Oyster Eating World Championship – New Orleans, USA
Held during the New Orleans Oyster Festival, this competition rewards speed and stamina.
Contestants race through trays of raw oysters, swallowing as many as possible before time runs out. Oyster fans look forward to the event every year, while others watch in disbelief.
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The Inferno Bowl Challenge – St. Petersburg, Florida
This isn’t your average bowl of soup.
The Inferno Bowl is packed with some of the hottest peppers in the world, and challengers have 30 minutes to finish the entire four-pound serving. Very few people have managed to complete it.
The Whale Challenge – Yorkshire, England
Fish and chips are a British favorite, but this version is on another level.
The meal includes a massive battered haddock, a mountain of fries, bread and butter, peas, and other sides. Finishing everything before the time limit expires is a serious accomplishment.
220-Ounce Steak Challenge – County Durham, England
This challenge isn’t for casual steak lovers.
Participants face a steak weighing nearly 14 pounds, along with the usual side dishes. It takes an enormous appetite, and plenty of determination, to finish the meal.
Kitchen Sink Challenge – Walnut Creek, California
Dessert lovers face a towering ice cream sundae loaded with bananas, multiple scoops of ice cream, toppings, whipped cream, and nuts.
Anyone who finishes the enormous dessert within the time limit earns more than bragging rights, along with a place in the restaurant’s challenge history.
Dumpling Challenge – Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo has hosted several dumpling-eating competitions over the years, all centered on one goal: eat as many dumplings as possible before time runs out.
The dumplings may be delicious, but after dozens of them, even the biggest fans start slowing down.
World Pea Shooting Championships – Witcham, England
This final event isn’t really about eating, yet it has earned a place among the world’s unusual food competitions.
Instead of swallowing food, competitors fire dried peas through traditional pea shooters at small targets. It’s an old-fashioned contest that has been entertaining visitors for decades and proves that food festivals don’t always have to revolve around eating.
