Burger lovers chow down at belly-busting contest

WASHINGTON - You've heard of the Nathan's hot dog eating contest on Coney Island every Fourth of July.

Now, D.C. has its own "stuff-your-face" competition: Z-Burger's first annual Independence Burger eating contest, billed as the 10 most exciting minutes in D.C. restaurant history.

Twelve eaters, some with lots of experience, some with just a little, tried to down as many burgers as they could in 10 minutes.

A crowd gathered outside the Wisconsin Avenue restaurant in Tenleytown to watch the competition on the sidewalk out front.

One contestant - a vegetarian - dropped out in just ten seconds!

Winner Peter Czerwinski was awarded $1,500 worth of free Z-Burger food, and $1,500 cash for downing 14 burgers.

Right after the competition, Czerwinski he was feeling "not too bad."

"I need this food to drop a little. It's all like in the top of my stomach, (and) get down to my intestines, but I'm okay," Czerwinski says.

The 23-year-old student from Ontario, Canada says he'll use the prize money to help pay for college.

As for the free food, Czerwinski plans to donate it to a local charity since he doesn't live in the area.

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