In a world facing a food crisis, with prices spiraling upwards and many sufferring from hunger and starvation, Singapore hosts the Major League Eating Asia competition. World heavyweights Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut wolfed down several kilograms worth of satay, with Kobayashi eventually gorging his way to the top.
According to the media release about the launching of MLE Asia, the competition in Singapore seems to be the the first of possibly many to come:
MLE Asia franchisee, Hairi Soewarso of Thinking Tub, said that the new MLE branch would use the contest as a launching pad to sponsor more events in Asia and the Middle East, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board.
I doubt there will be any competitions in Myanmar, though.
Note MLE Asia’s chinky logo, with the bamboo font and the fist holding a pair of chopsticks incorrectly. Then again, I suppose the proper way to use chopsticks in a speed-eating competition would be to use them to spear food with.
ChannelNewsAsia has an upbeat take on the competition:
Despite Singaporeans’ love for food, it seems the nation has got a long way to go before it reaches the top of the international competitive eating game.
Personally, I think it is BECAUSE of Singaporeans’ love for food that we don’t tend to snort it up without bothering to chew (a technique mastered by champion Takeru Kobayashi). Thankfully, this practice will soon be corrected:
… coaching clinics are being set up for finalists from this year’s event so that when the competition returns next year, they will be able to pit their skills against the world’s best.
(shudder)
Why does the STB always have to support such embarrassing competitions? Does no one else want to come to Singapore? If satay is going to be portrayed as a food that is wolfed down by hand by people who don’t stop to taste, is it still worth having it portrayed?