This weekend, legendary Japanese competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi takes on Canada’s own super-masticator ‘Furious Pete’ Czerwinski in a pizza pie showdown.

For Kobayashi, this marks a fresh start following his arrest last month after he rushed the stage at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York (He was charged but has since been cleared).

For Furious Pete, the subject of a recent Hot Docs entry, this competition marks another success on his long journey from anorexia to competitive eating.

The competition will take place at PIE, Barrie’s only wood-fired pizza joint, and the grand prize is $1,500 cash.

On the verge of competition, Postcity.com checked in with Furious Pete to see what’s cooking.

PostCity.com: How do you feel representing Canada on home turf?

Furious Pete: I feel great! I am one of the only Canadian pro eaters and to be able to represent Canada against Kobayashi is awesome!

PostCity.com: Is there a certain art to a pizza pie-eating contest?

Furious Pete: The jaw tends to get tired fast so you want to try and do as little chewing as possible. It’s hard not to do it, but if you can swallow some big pieces then you will be better off in the long run.

PostCity.com: How long does it take for your stomach to recover after an eating competition?

Furious Pete: Depends how long a contest is. Usually, I am good the next day after a morning trip to the toilet. On occasion, I’ll feel pretty terrible for a few days after.

PostCity.com: After overcoming anorexia, do you feel to this day that each competition you compete in is a mini-triumph?

Furious Pete: Totally! Every time I do a competition I think how ironic my story is and… I also ask myself: "What the hell am I doing?!"