Hot Dog Challenge returns to the White Buffalo Aug. 29
The Hot Dog Challenge will return to New Canaan on Saturday, Aug. 29, with a broader mission, a greater total of funds raised, and the challenges of holding a hot dog-eating contest amid COVID-19 rules.
This will be the second year the effort to “Make Hot Dogs Great Again” holds the contest at the White Buffalo, 72 Park St., and the fifth year overall that a group of friends has raised money in an effort that started with the question, “How many hot dogs can you eat between Memorial Day and Independence Day?”
The first year, a group of friends from New Canaan collected pledges for fulfilling the daily dog obligation, with the money going to Leader Dogs for the Blind.
This year, NewYorkPresbyterian Hospital’s Neurology & Neurosurgery Division has been added as a beneficiary, because it is now involved in the life of the brother of one of the first to take the challenge.
Jeff Cortese of Stamford was diagnosed with early onset hereditary blindness when he lost his sight in his early 20s. It was in part for him that Leader Dogs for the Blind was chosen for donations, and Dogs for Dogs was a slogan.
But that diagnosis was not complete or correct, and Cortese is now under treatment for the brain cancer glioblastoma, according to Frank Granito of New Canaan, one of the organizers.
Thus far in 2020, the Hot Dog Challenge has raised $13,400 for Leader Dogs for the Blind and $26,300 for NewYork-Presbyterian.
The challenge has evolved as it has grown. This year, rather than just eating a hot dog, documented by a selfie, every day, participants are making videos, which are judged on creativity. “Dog and Order” and a clip based on “The Shawshank Redemption” are among the entries, found at thehotdogchallenge.com.
But at the event on Aug. 29, the judging will be based on cosumption rather than creativity. Those who have entered the Nathan’s-style competition will have seven minutes to eat as many hot dogs and buns as they can.
Scheduled to partake in the sprint wienie roast are:
Bryan O’Callaghan of Lake Forest, Ill., a high school classmate of Granito, who won the 2019 contest with 11 hot dogs in 10 minutes;
Nick Cortese; Vinny Cortese;
Jamie Shea of Stamford, a childhood friend of Jeff;
Tommy Calo of Stamford, a childhood friend of Jeff;
Alanna Noll of Warren, N.J., a mutual friend through New Canaan classmates;
Jack McPhillips of New Canaan, who entered last year as a freshman football player, returns as a sophomore.
The White Buffalo will be open, Managing Partner Rich Hewitt said. The contest will take place in the ouside courtyard, and capacity is limited to 50 people. Masks are required downtown.
Donations can be made at thehotdogchallenge.com, as well as at the contest.