By Mike Morsch, Executive Editor
They call him “The Mutiny.” But Carmen Cincotti isn’t quite sure why.
Although he’s new to the competitive eating world, he’s made an impact in a short period of time. Maybe that’s why he’s called “The Mutiny.” It’s because things might be about to change in the pecking order of the guys who know how to eat.
“The whole schtick is that I’m young and came out of nowhere. For someone to get so good so quick and challenge Joey Chestnut, it’s unheard of. I did it in a year,” said Mr. Cincotti, an East Windsor resident. “So I think the whole premise is that I took the standard of what competitive eating is and how to be a better athlete and kind of tore everything down, kind of hacked the system a little bit.”
Ah, Joey Chestnut. He’s the man and has been for a while in world of competitive eating. He’s got a long resume of competitive eating titles and is currently the biggest chowhound on the porch, ranked No. 1 in the world by Major League Eating, the organization that sanctions professional competitive eating events.
And “The Mutiny” has Joey Chestnut square in the crosshairs at the next competition. That happens to be the second annual Word Famous Case’s Pork Roll Eating Championship schedule Saturday, Sept. 24, at Arm & Hammer Park, home of the Trenton Thunder baseball team, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
Mr. Cincotti, who stands 5 feet 8 inches and weighs 150 pounds. He ate 42 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs & Buns in 10 minutes to win the 2016 Washington, D.C., qualifier and then won again at the 2016 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Mr. Cincotti participated in the Word Famous Case’s Pork Roll Eating Championship event last year prior to becoming sanctioned by Major League Eating. Mr. Chestnut dominated that event, consuming 32 pork roll sandwiches for the title. Mr. Cincotti placed seventh by eating 16 pork roll sandwiches.
But Mr. Cincotti has upped his game, training like any athlete would to compete at the highest level.
“You have to really augment your body just to put all that food into it. It’s what every athlete does. If you want to run for distance, you have to train for it. That’s exactly what I had to do, I had to train my body to hold all that food and be consistent with it,” said Mr. Cincotti.
As a professional eater in his spare time — by day he’s an architect in East Windsor — Mr. Cincotti participates in only two eating contests per month. The rest of the time he eats healthy and hits the gym six times a week.
He hesitates to step on the scale after a competition, but estimates he gains somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds at a competition.
“I’m in this for fun, but once it becomes a detriment to my health, then I have to pull the plug and get out,” he said.
But right now, it is a tremendous amount of fun and the pork roll eating contest is the next challenge to see if “The Mutiny” is the up-an-coming real deal.
As for predictions, Mr. Cincotti has the confidence of a talented upstart who’s looking to knock off the top guy. And he thinks the Trenton event is a good place to start.
“The record last year was 32 (pork roll sandwiches). I’m aiming for more than 35. I don’t know how much Joey’s is going to put up. He’s been doing pretty well lately. But I think I’m going to push him and maybe we can hit around 40,” said Mr. Cincotti.
“I’m expecting it to be a close one, either he gets me by a little or I get him by a little. I think all the competitors are great for sure, but for me personally, my eye is on the big man himself, Joey Chestnut. I guess I’m trying to be prudent about it and keep my eye on who has consistently been winning.”
In addition to Mr. Chestnut, the field for this year’s pork roll eating contest includes three of the top five eaters in Major League Eating. Mr. Cincotti is currently ranked No. 4 in the world.
And the contestants can make a little money on the side, too. The purse for the pork roll eating contest is $4,000 total, with the first place finisher taking home $2,000 and the runner-up pocketing $1,000.
Still, it’s all about fun for the 23-year-old.
“It’s so much fun, you have no idea,” he said. “For me, I kind of just happened across this and thought I’d like to try it. It’s almost like a hidden gem. I’m getting into it. Just to be a part of it has been awesome.”
The competition on Sept. 24 will before noon to 4 p.m. at the ballpark. For tickets and information, go to www.EatPorkRoll.com or www.trentonthunder.com.
