making all these videos online<\/a>, and people love rotisseries,\u201d Rinsky said of the contest\u2019s inspiration. \u201cOne thing led to the next, and I feel like this was the logical next place to take it \u2014 to the streets of New York.\u201d <\/p>\nRinsky even corralled sponsors like antacid brand Quellix, next-door neighbor Petco and online betting app Kalshi for this year\u2019s event \u2014 though \u201cthe SEC didn\u2019t approve\u201d of chicken eating-related bets in time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Costco, it\u2019s five bucks: it\u2019s an excellent price. People don\u2019t realize a rotisserie chicken can serve your whole family,\u201d said David Roffe, a Brooklyn-based actor featured in Old Jewish Men of New York who was sporting a tee shirt with Costco\u2019s barcode for a rotisserie chicken at the event.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After a grueling six minutes and 44 seconds of gullet-cramming, Far Rockaway resident Robert McGee was crowned the contest champ \u2014 winning a golden chicken trophy, $500 dollars and a piping hot cheese pie from Roma Pizza.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019ll put it into my savings,\u201d said McGee, 35, of the prize money, claiming that he prepared by eating a steady regimen of chicken wings \u201call week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phil Castellano (left), owner of Roma Pizza, poses with contest winner Robert McGee. Michael Nigro<\/p>\n
While McGee couldn\u2019t beat last year\u2019s winner Danny Moriarty\u2019s record of finishing a bird at under five minutes, he did devour the pizza prize immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might be the heat: the white meat I\u2019ve heard was more intense this year,\u201d Rinsky said, \u201cbut they\u2019re all supposed to be standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert McGee was crowned the winner of the 2nd annual rotisserie chicken eating contest. Michael Nigro<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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