Vendy Awards Judges
These esteemed judges will decide who takes home this year’s Vendy Cup.
Tim Janus
Tim Janus is a top ranked competitive eater from New York City known in the competitive eating community as “Eater X.” He was the International Federation of Competitive Eating’s 2004 Rookie of the Year, and is the current tamale-, cannoli-, burrito-, and tiramisu-eating champion of the world. He was featured on the show “True Life: I’m a Competitive Eater” along with then world-champion hot-dog eater Takeru Kobayashi and was a test subject in the National Geographic documentary, The Science of Speed Eating.
Anita Lo
Anita Lo is the chef and co-owner of two highly-acclaimed restaurants in New York City — Annisa and Bar Q. She grew up in Michigan and graduated first in her class at the Ritz-Escoffier cooking school in France. She was named Food and Wine Chef of the Year in 2001. Before opening Annisa in 2000, she spent years in the kitchen at Bouley and Chantarelle. In 2004, she defeated Mario Batali on Iron Chef America.
Daisy Martinez
Daisy Martinez is a food writer and the host of “Daisy Cooks!” on PBS. She is the author of Daisy Cooks! Latin Flavors That Will Rock Your World, which was named the Best Latino Cuisine Cookbook in the World at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Daisy was inspired by her grandmother and mother who taught her that the kitchen is the happiest room in the household, filled with love, family, and delicious food. Daisy currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and children.
Paul Rieckhoff
Paul is the Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, non- profit Iraq and Afghanistan veterans group. He is also the author of the critically-acclaimed Chasing Ghosts, and a nationally recognized authority on the war in Iraq and issues affecting troops, military families and veterans. Prior to going to Iraq, Paul worked as an investment banking analyst on Wall Street. For two years during high school, he sold hot dogs from a food truck.
Calvin (Bud) Trillin
Calvin (Bud) Trillin is a journalist, humorist, and novelist. He worked as a reporter and staff for numerous media publications such as Time magazine and The New Yorker. He is best known for his humorous writings about food and eating such as the Tummy Trilogy, Feeding a Yen and Alice, Let’s Eat. He leads the Come Hungry eating tour each year as part of the New Yorker Festival. Calvin currently resides in Greenwich Village.
Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is a critically-acclaimed political writer, producer, comedian and co-creator of the Daily Show and Air America Radio. She is also the creator of “Shoot the Messenger“, a live comedy show presenting the world as seen through the filters of the fictional producers and on-air talent at “Wake Up World,” the worst fake morning news show in America. She has also been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.
