Food challenges are best enjoyed in Dubai, according to James Webb, the man who holds the world record for eating 276 chicken wings in less than 12 minutes. He also discusses what it takes to be a “professional eater.”
A tall man with a body builder’s physique is adjusting his well-organized 5-camera setup in the center of Mr. Brisket, located on Palm Jumeirah’s Golden Mile 4. We meet James Webb, the top-ranked competitive eater from Australia who ranks fifth globally, as he prepares for a brisket-eating challenge.
With an impressive resume in competitive eating, Webb presently owns world records for the fastest consumption of 276 chicken wings in 12 minutes and the fastest consumption of 59.5 donuts in an 8-minute display.
Known on social media as “J Webby Can Eat,” Webb is the first Australian to challenge Americans in competitive eating. He also achieved an impressive third place in the Nathan’s Hotdog Eating Contest, which was held in Coney Island, New York City.
In an attempt to pass the time during the pandemic, James began making food videos for entertainment, just like a lot of people all over the world who discovered or revived hobbies. When he was placed under lockdown in Australia, he turned to his passion for cooking and making videos, which quickly gained popularity on the internet, for comfort.
However, his initial encounter with a culinary contest occurred during an accidental lunch excursion to a nearby hamburger restaurant in Australia. A picture of this enormous burger that appeared to have been Photoshopped was hanging on the wall. I had no idea that it was the largest burger in Australia. Inquiring further, the proprietor revealed with pride, “That’s my undefeated Burger Challenge.” It has never been defeated. Fifty-five people have made the attempt and utterly failed.
Competitive eating: what is it?
In the United States, eating competitively is regarded as a sport. Competing eaters, also referred to as professional eaters, eat a lot of food in a short amount of time. These competitions, which are also well-liked in Canada and Japan, are frequently held at festivals or events and draw competitors and spectators from all over the world.
After a few months, Webb made the decision to fully commit to competitive eating and quit his day job. “Well, what’s the worst that can happen? my wife said, even though I wasn’t entirely convinced. You return and land a new position.
Webb took a two-week vacation from his full-time job in sales and marketing to the US, where he not only participated in multiple food challenges but also returned with a professional contract. After becoming the first Australian to earn a spot at Coney Island and the prestigious Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Webb came to the realization that he had to carve out a place for himself in this world.