Bizarre NYC rotisserie chicken-eating contest ends with belly-busting twist
Nearly two dozen people gobbled up entire rotisserie chickens at a bizarre and messy Brooklyn sidewalk competition Sunday – and the winner washed down the poultry with an entire pizza pie.
5 Nearly two dozen participants and scores of on-lookers at the 2nd annual rotisserie chicken-eating event on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope.
Michael Nigro
The second annual rotisserie chicken-eating contest, organized by viral TikTok account Old Jewish Men of New York, took place outside Roma Pizza and had attracted a crowd of onlookers on Seventh Avenue who gawked at the 22 men and women chowing down on $4.99 bagged Costco birds.
'It's the meat of the people, it's great because you can get it for $5,' Noah Rinsky, the 36-year-old Park Slope resident behind the Old Jewish Men of New York lifestyle brand, told The Post.
5 Contestants gobbling down chicken off the bone in Park Slope.
Michael Nigro
'There seems to be kind of a rotisserie chicken fandom in general: we've been making all these videos online, and people love rotisseries,' Rinsky said of the contest's inspiration. 'One thing led to the next, and I feel like this was the logical next place to take it — to the streets of New York.'
Rinsky even corralled sponsors like antacid brand Quellix, next-door neighbor Petco and online betting app Kalshi for this year's event — though 'the SEC didn't approve' of chicken eating-related bets in time.
'At Costco, it's five bucks: it's an excellent price. People don't realize a rotisserie chicken can serve your whole family,' said David Roffe, a Brooklyn-based actor featured in Old Jewish Men of New York who was sporting a tee shirt with Costco's barcode for a rotisserie chicken at the event.
The 73-year-old micro-celebrity even launched his own Chicken Show interview series on YouTube earlier this year, featuring the likes of New York City comptroller Brad Lander, local social media personality New York Nico and even former US Rep. Anthony Weiner.
5 Robert McGee, 35, of Far Rockaway, told The Post he was originally waitlisted for the contest after finding out about it on Instagram.
Michael Nigro
After a grueling six minutes and 44 seconds of gullet-cramming, Far Rockaway resident Robert McGee was crowned the contest champ — winning a golden chicken trophy, $500 dollars and a piping hot cheese pie from Roma Pizza.
'I think I'll put it into my savings,' said McGee, 35, of the prize money, claiming that he prepared by eating a steady regimen of chicken wings 'all week.'
5 Phil Castellano (left), owner of Roma Pizza, poses with contest winner Robert McGee.
Michael Nigro
While McGee couldn't beat last year's winner Danny Moriarty's record of finishing a bird at under five minutes, he did devour the pizza prize immediately.
'It might be the heat: the white meat I've heard was more intense this year,' Rinsky said, 'but they're all supposed to be standard.'
5 Robert McGee was crowned the winner of the 2nd annual rotisserie chicken eating contest.
Michael Nigro
Phil Castellano, whose family has owned Roma Pizza for 42 years, told The Post that the strange affair was not only fun, but also provides a real boost for local businesses on the block.
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