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In the dumpling eating challenge arena, Joe the dumpling man is not only calm and collected, but he is also methodical. His jaws tremble with excitement and his mouth waters in anticipation of another showdown at Flag City in Negril, Westmoreland.

Joe isn't just another hungry contender. Calm, calculated, and laser-focused, he has a goal of devouring 40 steaming cornmeal dumplings in a single sitting.

"I love to eat dumplings, the most I eat is 35," said Joe, whose given name is Danovan Bailey.

For Nashon McGibbon, CEO of Flag City, Joe is good, but Mega Champs has proven himself to be unbeatable.

"He's always winning. It's like no one in Jamaica can beat this guy," said McGibbon, whose kitchen doubles as a competitive arena and food is a full-contact sport.

Mega Champs is the reigning king of dumpling eating. While no one has managed to match his 40-dumpling record, Joe believes he is the man to do it. He is convinced that his strategy, honed over years of competitive feasting, will soon land him in record-breaking territory. After all, he was once the dumpling eating record-holder before being dethroned.

"Before I start, I drink a hot cup of lime tea. It opens up my appetite," said Joe, while stating that "I have the space inside me".

To him, the lime tea is the secret sauce.

"Lime tea is like soup, you know? Like when you drink broth before your meal, it gets you ready. That's why I'm the plate cleaner," he said.

Joe swears by his meticulous pacing as he devours one dumpling after the other. It takes him a little over 30 minutes to finish 35 dumplings, no drinks, no breaks, just steady chewing and serious focus.

"Yuh affi pace yuhself," he explained. "Cause if yuh rush, yuh mash up."

Despite the volume of food he consumes, Joe says his body handles it well.

"I don't get stomach pain or constipation. The only thing is, my stomach feels stiff for a little while. I just drink some juice, lie down, and I'm good. Then I get ready to go again."

At Flag City, dumpling duels are always on the menu, drawing tourists and locals alike with the promise of pride, laughter, and viral glory.

"We do the challenge every day," said McGibbon, one of the six team members behind the madness.

"We cook for guests, we're in the tourist area, so we cook for them, entertain them, and sometimes, challenge them too."

McGibbon said the food challenge started with a bit of leftover food and a lot of bravado.

"One day we were just here and said, 'Let's cook some mackerel and dumpling.' One guy said he could eat 20 dumplings, then another said if him eat 20, him can eat 25. That's how the challenge started," McGibbon recalled.

"Back then, we used to eat like 10 to 15 dumplings just for dinner, nothing serious. But after that day, it just kept growing. Now we're making 40 dumplings per person for the challenge."

Each challenge plate is no joke - four pounds of flour and cornmeal turned into 40 dense dumplings, paired with three pounds of chicken. It's a feast built to break even the most determined eaters.

"It's not just a challenge, it's a full pot!" McGibbon laughed. "And that's what separates the curious guests from the real contenders."