Joey Chestnut shares his ultimate Pepsi and hot dog pairing, interview

While Joey Chestnut has devoured his fair share of hot dogs, one food and beverage pairing is always the winner. Continuing the Better with Pepsi campaign, Chestnut’s ultimate Pepsi and hot dog pairing is the flavor combination that everyone can agree upon.

Although people like a spirited conversation around food, hot dogs have recently been a more hotly debated topic. From toppings to types, people’s commentary is more heated than the grill’s temperature.

This summer Pepsi has focused on the grilling and how the outdoor cooking event brings people together. From “grill’s night out” to the tempting aroma that wafts in the air, summer and food are heating up in a delectable way.

Since food should be fun, enjoyable, and delicious, Pepsi continued its partnership with Joey Chestnut this summer. Some people might remember that the pair helped launch last year’s Pepsi Colachup.

During a recent conversation with FoodSided, Joey Chestnut shared some of his hot takes on Pepsi, hot dogs, and his favorite food and beverage pairing.

When asked why he thinks that Pepsi and hot dogs are the perfect flavor pairing, Chestnut said, “Pepsi makes hot dogs’ taste better, its crisp caramel and citrus flavor cuts through the savory flavor of hot dogs. I personally love how refreshing Pepsi Zero Sugar Wild Cherry tastes, but Pepsi Lime and Peach would definitely elevate a hot dog. Lime delivers a delicious citrus taste while peach brings the flavor of sweetness.”

Although it might come down to personal preference of sweet or citrus, the reality is that Pepsi’s universality makes it a popular choice. Given that people are very particular about their hot dog toppings, it is beneficial to have a beverage that goes with everything.

For Chestnut, he has a few go-to toppings, but he appreciates that there is room for all the food choices. As he said, “No toppings should be banned, since everyone likes something different. I will put everything from kimchi to cream cheese on a hot dog, but my go-to toppings are mustard and raw onion. Last summer, there was a true condiment standout which was Pepsi Colachup – it was perfectly sweet yet tangy.”

While many people are passionate about hot dog toppings, few people talk about the bun. Given that the bread is the vehicle to enjoy that food, I had to ask Chestnut on his take.

Chestnut said, “In contests we use classic white buns, similar to ones used in baseball games. I’ve had just about every other kind of bun, and all are great as long as they’re fresh and don’t split down the middle. Sesame is an absolute must on a Chicago dog!”

In food eating contests, the eaters often dunk their buns. Although that choice might not be as common around the dinner table, Chestnut shared some insight on the “dunking” situation in contests.  

According to Chestnut, “The dunking beverage absolutely matters. In a competitive setting, water is usually my go-to. But in contests where I am not dunking, I have used Pepsi as my drink to help me swallow the food. Recently, I used Pepsi Zero Sugar while eating a record 200 boneless wings.”

Since the “regular” person will probably never eat 200 boneless wings in a single sitting or eat more than 60 hot dogs in a matter of minutes, people have come to understand that competitive eating is a sport. As such, the participants have to train. Granted, their training might not involve hundreds of laps swum or miles run.

When asked about his training, Chestnut explained, “Training is a huge part of what I do as a competitive eater. One unlikely aspect people might not realize is the focus on jaw strength and stamina. I do specific exercises, even burping exercises, to build up my jaw muscles, and I practice controlling my breathing to stay calm and focused during competitions.”

Joey Chestnut might be the hot dog eating legend, but will he ever get tired of eating hot dogs. The answer is simple.

“Never! Even outside of competitions, I genuinely enjoy hot dogs, especially when paired with Pepsi Zero Sugar Wild Cherry. Hot dogs are an American staple and will forever be one of my favorite things to eat.”

It is time to crack open a cold Pepsi, light up the grill, and enjoy another hot dog. Whether it is topped with mustard, ketchup, or dragged through the garden, hot dogs and Pepsi are always a winning combination.