Nathan's Famous: How Joey Chestnut Made a Fake Contest a National Obsession
"Fine" Dining25 Jun 2025

Nathan's Famous: How Joey Chestnut Made a Fake Contest a National Obsession

🌭 Nathan's Famous: The Hot Dog Empire with a Big Secret 🌭

This week, we dive mouth-first into the greasy, glorious history of Nathan's Famous, the iconic hot dog brand that gave us Al Capone's favorite beach snack, a gluttonous holiday tradition, and the most American sporting event of all time: the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

From shady police bribes to feeding royalty to Joey Chestnut's triumphant return after an Impossible controversy, this episode covers over a century of beef, buns, and barfing-for-glory. Joining me is comedian Marty Cunnie (who saw Chestnut live in action!! I'm fangirling).

🍺 A President Served Nathan's to the Queen of England
💵 Bribing Cops Was Just Good Business
📉 The Hot Dog Eating Contest Origins Are a Complete Lie
🏆 Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Wrestling Vibes & Wet Buns
🇺🇸 Chestnut Returns for His 17th Mustard Belt
📺 Netflix's "Unfinished Beef" Wasn't Canon
😬 Coney Island: Hot Dogs, Broken Glass, & Weird Tits
🏠 Marty's Dream Restaurant Is Just His 3AM Apartment

💬 COMMENT BELOW: How many hot dogs is too many?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast
🎤 Marty Cunnie on IG: @martycunniecomedy

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

👉 NEXT WEEK: We review the original Nathan's Famous location in Coney Island to see if the dogs are still worth the pilgrimage — or if the legend should stay in the history books.

Episoder(158)

Perkins Review feat. Andrew Canada (Two in the Cooler Podcast) [Part Two]

Perkins Review feat. Andrew Canada (Two in the Cooler Podcast) [Part Two]

Even the name sounds mediocre! I'm joined once again by Two in the Cooler podcast host Andrew Canada to hit up a chain that was a staple of his childhood: Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Perkins has a di...

28 Aug 20241h 6min

Perkins History feat. Andrew Canada (Two in the Cooler Podcast) [Part One]

Perkins History feat. Andrew Canada (Two in the Cooler Podcast) [Part One]

I traveled to New York, New York for this one! From the Two in the Cooler podcast, host Andrew Canada joins me this week to check out Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, a chain that I flew across the count...

21 Aug 202440min

Houston's Restaurant Review feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part Two]

Houston's Restaurant Review feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part Two]

The sushi at Houston's is an unexpected masterpiece! Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone is one of the higher-end experiences I've had for the podcast, and That Was Wild podcast's Adam Macias joined m...

14 Aug 20241h 3min

Houston's Restaurant History feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part One]

Houston's Restaurant History feat. Adam Macias (That Was Wild Podcast) [Part One]

A chain with 15 different names! Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone aka 13 other things is one of the more upscale chains, and Adam Macias from the That Was Wild podcast joins me to learn interesting...

7 Aug 202440min

Popeyes Review feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part Two]

Popeyes Review feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part Two]

We eat the chicken sandwich that caused chaos upon launch! Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen makes it clear that you're not supposed eat it there. But I powered through with my guest, stand-up comedian Sierr...

31 Jul 20241h 1min

Popeyes History feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part One]

Popeyes History feat. Sierra Katow (Stand-Up Comedian, TV Chef Fantasy League) [Part One]

The stories from the sandwich launch are wild! I went to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen with stand-up comedian Sierra Katow, but before reviewing the place we have to go over the franchise history The Eat...

24 Jul 202447min

Shoney's Review feat. Dad [Part Two]

Shoney's Review feat. Dad [Part Two]

A new Worst Restaurant in America is crowned! A restaurant so bad, I don't think my Dad (my guest this week) will ever let me live it down: Shoney's Buffet soups shouldn't have such a thick skin over...

17 Jul 202454min

Shoney's History feat. Dad [Part One]

Shoney's History feat. Dad [Part One]

Traveled across the country for this! Coming to you from the mountains of North Carolina, I bring you the Eat Deets for Shoney's with my very own Dad Shoney's has undergone a few name changes, includ...

10 Jul 202429min

Populært innen Humor

papaya
rss-spartsklubben
enkel-servering
harm-og-hegseth
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
tore-og-haralds-podkast
tusvik-tnne
folk-flest-med-linn-og-nils
topp-3-med-wold-og-fladseth
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
misjonen-med-antonsen-og-golden
wolfgang-wee-uncut
rss-snorre-med-gaute
hanna-de-heldige
verdens-verste
jan-thomas-og-einar-blir-venner
rss-det-alle-snakker-om-med-siri-og-kim
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
gutta-backer
frokostshowet-pa-p5