Fans Demand Kobayashi Chestnut Rematch!

Competitive eating superstar Takeru Kobayashi returned to Coney Island to attend the Mermaid Parade last summer and to eat his first hot dog on Surf ave in 9 years. However, he didn’t visit Nathan’s Famous but rather Luna Park where he was witnessed by fans chowing down on his new favorite hot dog, Feltman’s of Coney Island.

The former Nathan’s Famous champ hasn’t competed in the contest in years making the contest much less exciting as a result of a 2010 contract dispute. Some local fans would like to see him compete again.

Gravesend resident Christopher Miquel standing outside of Feltman’s hot dog stand at Luna Park said” Chestnut(current Nathan’s belt holder) should go head to head against Kobayashi again! The fans want a rematch! Like Ali vs Frasier! I hope Nathan’s let’s him compete!” Bensonhurst native Vinnie Torre chimed in “ I totally understand why Kobayashi wouldn’t sign a contract. It was a smart move as Kobayashi being free from a studio system like contract has made him millions! He’s worth like 3 times more than Chestnut! He’s also way more famous!”

Christopher Miquel said that “Kobayashi in my mind is the true champion! Let’s see Kobayashi challenge Chestnut to a contest eating Feltman’s hot dogs! A non binding charity contest! I’ll put my money on Kobayashi as he has experience eating Feltman’s hot dogs.”

Torre adds”Although I enjoy eating both brands I think Chestnut would have a really hard time with the non greasy all natural larger Feltman’s hot dog. Come on Chestnut! Let’s make it happen!”

This hot dog competition goes back over a century. Charles Feltman invented the hot dog at Coney Island in 1867. Nathan Handwerker worked as a bun slicer at Feltman’s Restaurant the summer of 1915. Feltman’s hot dogs were 10c at the time. After leaving his job at Feltman’s Restaurant Handwerker opened his own juice and Frankfurter stand initially selling Williamsburg’s Swift and Co. hot dogs which enabled him to sell the Franks at half the price of Feltman’s. At the time Swift and Co. had state of the art meat producing machinary that could mass produce great tasting hot dogs at a lower cost. Genius move!

Currently Feltman’s of Coney Island hot dogs are found at local supermarkets like Kings Food Market, Balducci’s, Met Foods Nostrand, Brenman’s on Gerritsen Ave and Fairway Market as well as nation wide at FeltmansofConeyIsland.com

Northeast hot dog expert John Fox claims that Feltman’s naturally smoked hot dogs are the best all beef hot dogs around. Feltman’s has been rated #7 in the country by the Daily Meal. Best hot dog in Coney Island by the New York Post and “most likely the best hot dog you will eat in your life” by Gothamist.

No matter which brand of hot dog is used let’s make sure we see a Kobayashi/ Chestnut rematch! Hot dog fans around the world deserve it!!