Forget Hot Dogs: Cannoli-Eating Contest Coming To NYC Mall

STATEN ISLAND, NY — Tired: Hot dogs in Coney Island. Wired: Cannoli in Staten Island.

Dozens of sweet-toothed eaters are expected to wolf down the Italian treats Thursday during the inaugural Fourth of July cannoli-eating contest at New York City's only outlet mall.

Empire Outlets, which opened near the Staten Island Ferry terminal in May, will host the 11 a.m. contest as part of a three-day block party meant to celebrate Independence Day and kick off summer activities at the shopping center.

"We’re starting a new July 4th tradition that brings together New Yorkers and visitors from across the globe to enjoy the world’s best cannoli right here on Staten Island," Joseph Ferrara, a principal of Empire Outlets developer BFC Partners, said in a statement.

Competitors will have three minutes to swallow as many cannoli as they can. The winner will get a $500 gift certificate to the mall's Nordstrom Rack store, which will also open on Thursday, a news release says.

Mark's Bake Shoppe, a Staten Island bakery located about seven miles from the mall, has provided hundreds of cannoli for the inaugural contest, according to the release.

The chowdown is slated to start just an hour before the famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, where eaters have 10 minutes to eat weenies. Competitive eater Joey Chestnut ate 74 hot dogs to win last year's contest.

Cannoli won't be all there is to eat at Empire Outlets this weekend. The mall's block party on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will feature food vendors, a pop-up beer garden and food trucks along with music, street performers, a tie-dye workshop, sandcastle building and other activities, the news release says.

The 340,000-square-foot mall is home to several outlet stores including Gap Factory, Levi's, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers and Old Navy.