Bertoletti and the Black Widow go head to head at jalapeno eating contest

The heat was on this weekend as two of the world’s top competitive eaters went head to head in a grudge match eating spicy jalapeno peppers.

At last year’s La Costena Feel the Heat Jalapeno Eating Championship Challenge there was high drama as Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas stole the title from Pat Bertoletti following a one minute eat off after the pair tied in the main event. Thomas managed to down 250.5 hot peppers, to Bertoletti’s 240.

This year Bertoletti was determined to win back his title, and it was another very tight match as Bertoletti set a new world record for jalapeno pepper consumption. At the end of the ten minute event Sonya Thomas had swallowed an amazing 274 whole pickled jalapenos, but the number one female competitive eater in the world was pipped at the post by Bertoletti who managed to stuff his cakehole with 275 peppers! A new world record!

Bertoletti explained how he prepared for the event, which has quite a burning effect on it’s competitors.

“My natural capacity is very high, but I go the extra mile to coat my stomach beforehand. I try to front load with a neutralizer — a lot of Pepto, and milk and milkshakes to set the stage stomach for the acidity that’s coming.”

The mohawked champ walked away with $2,700 in prize money and a new world record.