A Michelin-trained chef from Germany found himself in a sticky situation in Bangkok, Thailand, accused of a brazen scheme to win cash prizes in competitive curry-eating contests. Sebastian Schwesinger, 37, had been rapidly demolishing enormous plates of curry, raising eyebrows and sparking suspicion among restaurant staff.
The speed at which he consumed 6kg, 8kg, and eventually 10kg of curry was simply too fast, even for seasoned professional eaters. Restaurant owners at Gold Curry Bangkok began to wonder how one person could achieve such feats of culinary consumption. Their doubts led them to a hidden eye in the sky – CCTV footage.
What the cameras revealed was shocking. Schwesinger wasn’t simply a gifted eater; he was a master of deception. The footage showed him discreetly stuffing handfuls of curry and rice into his backpack, effectively concealing his cheating from plain sight. The initial discovery came when an employee noticed a suspicious reflection in the refrigerator.
The manager of Gold Curry Bangkok, Jack Witsarut, recounted the events. Schwesinger began the 10kg challenge at 3:10 pm and astonishingly finished by 3:50 pm. But the quick time wasn’t due to skill, but a hidden compartment. When confronted, Schwesinger reportedly refused to allow an inspection of his bag, which staff claimed reeked of curry.
As staff investigated further, they uncovered a pattern. Allegations surfaced that Schwesinger had cheated at two sister restaurants, accumulating a total of 30,000 baht (approximately £715) in ill-gotten gains. A photograph surfaced showing him triumphantly giving a thumbs-up after completing a 6kg challenge with minutes to spare – a feat now tainted by the evidence of cheating.
Police were called when Schwesinger attempted to leave, claiming he had no money to pay. He offered to transfer funds from Germany, but the restaurant, wary of a potential cancellation, insisted on immediate resolution. Witsarut noted the lack of any record of Schwesinger as a legitimate competitive eater, adding to the suspicion.
“We were surprised by how quickly he was able to finish the challenges,” Witsarut explained. “Even professionals usually take much longer and often film themselves.” Finishing eight kilograms in 40 minutes would have been a national record, a feat that now appears entirely fraudulent. The restaurant emphasized that staff couldn’t constantly monitor contestants without making them feel pressured.
Schwesinger was forced to leave his passport as collateral, promising to return the following day to settle the bill. Gold Curry has since issued a warning to other restaurants, urging them to blacklist the deceptive diner. The business is now considering legal action, seeking to recover the prize money and deter future cheating.
Gold Curry’s extreme curry rice challenges, offered at all eight Bangkok locations and other provinces, attract those brave enough to tackle portions ranging from two to ten kilograms, with cash prizes of up to 40,000 baht for completion within an hour. This incident serves as a stark reminder that even in the world of competitive eating, appearances can be deceiving.
