Could the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Be Heading to France?
Nothing is as American as apple pie, but hot dogs come close. One of the biggest names in wieners is Nathan's Famous, in no small part due to their annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest held on the most American day of the year: the Fourth of July.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Getty Images NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: People compete during the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2018 in the Coney Island neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Joey Chestnut won the contest, eating a Coney Island record 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
Recently, Nathan's Famous has been bringing its iconic American menu to other parts of the world—including the Middle East, Asia, and the Great Britain. And this week, they've announced that, for the first time, they're entering a market known for its reluctance to embrace American foods and brand: France.
The Coney Island dogs will debut on French menus thanks to a new collaboration with the French chain Tommy's Dinner, billed as a '50's throwback American diner. "This new relationship with Tommy's is a big step for us as we look to see that growth spread throughout Europe, and we're excited that they are our first French outpost and will be one of the first internationally to have our foot-long hot dog," James Walker, Nathan's senior vice president of restaurants, stated in the announcement.
Alexi Rosenfeld / Getty Images NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 31: People sit at Nathan's Famous on the boardwalk at Coney Island on Memorial Day in the Brooklyn Borough of New York on May 31, 2021 in New York City. On May 19, coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted making Memorial Day the first holiday weekend without any restrictions in over 15 months. Much of the three-day holiday weekend was rained out with temperatures dropping to the 50s and 60s. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
However, anyone can ship a hot dog to another country. What makes this so unique— and what would probably truly infuriate the French—would be if Nathan's also brought its hot dog eating contest across the Atlantic.
But is that something Nathan's would actually do? Reached for comment, Walker told us that it was "Absolutely!" a possibility. "We are definitely considering France as well as other countries for future hot dog eating contests," he explained.
It begs the question, what would a French Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest look like? Would Americans be allowed to compete or would it be some sort of European competition where the global champions could meet up head-to-head? And what day would it be held on? Bastille Day? The excitement is palpable, and it's not even official yet.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's possible the French won't even take an interest in Nathan's Hot Dogs. But maybe the promise of a future hot dog eating contest could get their mouths watering.
