Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship August 26

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LOS ANGELES, Calif., — On Saturday, August 26, 2017, the world’s top competitive eaters will gather in downtown Los Angeles for the 11th Annual Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship. The premier competitive eating event on the West Coast, the showdown challenges eaters to devour as many Day-Lee Pride gyoza (Japanese potstickers) as possible in 10 minutes.

Joey Chestnut—the #1 competitive eater in the world ranked by Major League Eating (MLE), the reigning Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Record Holder, and the World Gyoza record holder (384 gyoza)—will be back to reclaim his title. Matt Stonie, the 2016 Gyoza champ and #2 competitive eater in the world, will also be competing.

Geoffrey Esper (#5), Gideon Oji (#6), Michelle Lesco (#9), Juan Rodriguez (#10), Richard LeFevre (#13), Eric Booker (#16), Darron Breeden (#17), Steve Hendry (#19), Pablo Martinez (#20), Carlene LeFevre (#42), Mary Bowers (#46), Doug Ecks (#47), and Jon Bello will round out the competitor lineup, making it one of the strongest fields of professional eaters ever assembled. Special guest Jonathan “Beer Mug” Kantrow, radio personality from KROQ’s “Kevin and Bean Show,” will also test his competitive eating skills against the world’s best. Competitors—aside from consuming platefuls of gyoza—will be vying for a $6,000 cash purse.

Day-Lee has been making their famous high-quality gyoza with generous filling, less dough, and no MSG for decades. This year, Day-Lee Foods—who also makes a line of authentic, premium-quality Asian food—will be partnering with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and donating a case of product for every plate of gyoza consumed in the contest. That means for every pound of gyoza eaten, about twenty pounds of food will be donated to help alleviate hunger in the Los Angeles community. They anticipate donating 3,200 pounds of food. “We wanted to find a way to give back in a meaningful way and are excited to embark on a relationship with one of L.A.’s most deserving organizations,” said Craig Jaunzemis, Director of Marketing at Day-Lee Foods.

“The Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship has been one of the biggest events on our calendar since 2006,” said Rich Shea, president of Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). “The best of the best have shocked fans by making huge strides in their capacity for gobbling gyoza over the years. With the impressive lineup scheduled to compete, we’re eager to see if 2017 will be the year that Joey’s 2014 world record of 384 gyoza in ten minutes will be beaten.”

Taking place during the 77th 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 Community Gyoza Chowdown at 2:00 PM, the Ninin Baori Gyoza Challenge (Japanese Party Game) at 2:15 PM, and the LAPD vs. LAFD Gyoza Eating Showdown at 2:30 PM. Admission is free; limited seating and ample standing room will be available. The event will feature food, vendor booths, the Sapporo Beer Garden, and post-contest musical entertainment.

Additional information for the Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship 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 6 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 (Japanese potstickers) in 10 minutes. The current world record is 384 gyoza eaten by the 2014 champion, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut (currently ranked #1 by MLE).

About the 2017 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 2017 festival will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 19-27. For more information, a calendar of events, and volunteer information visit www.NiseiWeek.org