Toronto’s Yonge and Dundas Square will be transformed into a poutine lover’s paradise this upcoming weekend to host the fifth annual Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship.
Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship is proudly known as the world’s largest poutine eating competition. It is also Canada’s largest eating competition and gathers major league competitive eaters from all over the world to compete for the title of Poutine Champion.
Holder of the 2013 title is the number one ranked eater of the world, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. Chestnut crushed his competition with the record of eating 24 pounds of poutine.
Chestnut is expected to return to Toronto for the Championships; along with Canadian world major eaters, Ben Do and Meredith Boxberger.
Ben Do, 24, is from Kitchener, Ont. and is ranked the number two eater in Canada. Do ate seven pounds of poutine and took eighth place in the 2013 championship.
Do says he has been preparing for the championship with water training. He describes it as training technique that involves him chugging a large amount of water to expand his stomach in a short period of time.
Do expects a better outcome for himself in the championships and for the Canadian title.
“My biggest competition would have to be Meredith Boxberger, because she’s the other Canadian in the contest. The first year we did it, I beat her, but the last two years, she’s beat me. So it’s kind of going back and forth for the Canadian title type thing,” Do says.
Number one ranked eater in Canada is Meredith ‘Deep Fried Diva’ Boxberger, 27, from Barrie, Ont.
Boxberger ate nine and a quarter pounds of poutine and placed fifth in last year’s championship.
“Nine and a quarter pounds is a little ridiculous. I think I did six the previous year. I honestly don’t know if I can surpass nine and quarter pounds, but I’m going to give it a good shot this year,” Boxberger said.
Both Canadians competitors are hoping for better weather this year and are excited to eat.
Smoke’s Poutine will provide the food for the competitors and will also offer free poutine for visitors.
Smoke’s Poutine Facebook contest winner, Robert Robinson, says “I’m pretty excited as I’ll get to see up close to everything that happens.”
Robinson won a front row seat to watch the championship.
Smoke’s Poutine continues to be the world’s largest poutinerie.
All charitable donations and proceeds from The Smoke’s Poutine Eating Championship will go to the Covenant House.
2013 Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship (PHOTO: Smoke’s Poutinerie)
