Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar is offering competitive eating legend Joey Chestnut an opportunity to showcase his skills – on July 4 – after the perennial victor of the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was banned from the competition. Chestnut, who has won the competition 16 times, was ousted from this year’s event due to his relationship with Impossible Foods.
Primanti Bros. – which doesn’t serve any Nathan’s nor Impossible products – thinks its sandwiches are better than hotdogs anyway.
“Listen, Joey was put in an impossible position,” said Adam Golomb, Primanti Bros. CEO. “He’s got vegan beef with the hot dog world. No one wants that.”
Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar – founded in 1933 – has been selling its Almost Famous sandwich for more than 90 years. The sandwich – built between thick cut slices of Italian bread and piled high grilled meat, Provolone cheese, French fries, Coleslaw and tomato – may be a little heftier than what Chestnut is used to – which only makes the challenge more appealing.
“If Joey wants to celebrate our nation’s independence with a James Beard Award winning American Classic – well, we’d be honored,” said Golomb. “At this point, I think the most I’ve ever seen anyone eat in one sitting was five. And I feel like Joey’s got that beat.”
In addition to the opportunity to become the most prolific Primanti Bros. sandwich eater of all time– the restaurant is offering Chestnut a coveted place on its mural – located at the restaurant’s original location in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
“From sea to shining sea – it’s coleslaw, French fries and Provolone for me,” said Golomb. “That’s probably my worst quote ever – but I don’t know if there’s any better way to ring in America’s Independence than with 25 or 30 Primanti sandwiches.”
Visit PrimantiBros.com for more information.
In 1933, Joe Primanti opened a lunch cart in Pittsburgh’s Strip District selling sandwiches to the hungry truckers who were coming and going at all times of the night. Encouraged by sales and positive feedback, Joe expanded to a small storefront where he was joined by his brothers Dick and Stanley and their nephew John DePriter. And that’s how the very first Primanti Bros. location was born all dedicated to that early notion that folks deserve great food, with no pretense, for a good price.
