Pat 'Deep Dish' Bertoletti Wins La Costena Feel the Heat Jalapeno Eating Championship Challenge

SAN ANTONIO, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the world's greatest speed eaters recently battled in the Alamo City to claim victory in the La Costena Feel the Heat Jalapeno Eating Championship Challenge.  After ten fiery minutes, including a double overtime one-on-one challenge with the reigning champion, Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti emerged victorious by consuming 275 whole pickled jalapenos.  The fourth annual challenge was a highly anticipated rematch between the reigning champ – five-foot-tall, 105-pound Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas – and Bertoletti, the mohawked, two-time title winner from Chicago.  With a vengeance not seen since the Battle of the Alamo, Bertoletti regained the coveted title from Thomas.  Both Bertoletti and Thomas set a new record for the number of jalapenos eaten at this annual competition.  

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Thomas placed second with 274 jalapenos and coming in third and fourth were Seattle's Eric "The Red" Denmark who ate 92 and Gary Klucken, of Waco, Texas, who ate 73, respectively. "Texas history is replete with accounts of great heroism, but nothing can compare to what we saw today," said George Shea, Chairman of Major League Eating.  "America saw athletes in peak physical condition take on the most demanding of all foods with courage and determination. It was inspiring." Now in its fourth year, the La Costena Feel the Heat Jalapeno Eating Championship Challenge is respected as one of the most grueling and entertaining events on the Major League Eating circuit and awards a prize purse of $6,000.

La Costena jalapenos are the number one jalapenos sold in America.  This annual professional eating competition marks the launch of the brand's summer-long The Spice is Right Tour, which will heat up some of the nation's largest cities this year, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Atlanta and Houston.  The tour's goal is demonstrating how to turn everyday meals into full-flavored dishes with just the right amount of spice.

For more information on La Costena and The Spice Is Right Tour, connect on Twitter at @LaCostenaTour and on Facebook at facebook.com/LaCostenaUSA.

About La Costena

La Costena is a Mexican company with more than 85 years of experience manufacturing, distributing and marketing high quality canned foods. Its delicious variety of products, including peppers, salsas, beans, mole, mayonnaise, and tender cactus, among other favorites, preserve the flavor of traditional Mexican cuisine, making its products the preferred choice for millions of consumers worldwide.

SOURCE La Costena