Wednesday, September 14, 2011

  Largest Navajo taco: Gallup residents sets world record (HD Video)

GALLUP, N.M., USA -- Residents in Gallup , used 150 pieces of fry bread and more than 30 pounds of green chile, 65 pounds of ground beef, 65 pounds of beans, 50 pounds of lettuce and 90 pounds of cheese to create a giant taco measuring more than 10 feet in diameter - which sets the world record for the Largest Navajo taco, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com).

  Photo: In this photo released by the New Mexico Tourism Department, residents help build the "world's largest Navajo taco," in Gallup, N.M. Photo: N.M. Tourism Department/AP ( enlarge photo )

  The Guinness world record for the largest flour taco in the world weighed 750 kg (1,654 lb) and was made by the city of Mexicali and Cocinex SA de CV, in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest taco rice: it weighed 746 kg (1,644 lb 10 oz) and was made by Kincho Shokokai (Japan) at Nature Miraikan Koryu Hiroba in Kin-cho, Okinawa, Japan.

  Bill Lee, executive director of the Gallup McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, said there was no record for the world's largest Navajo taco in the Guinness Book of World Record, so residents created one.

  "We just decided we would establish the record," said Lee. "There wasn't anything on the books officially."

  Among those who help build the massive taco were Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney and employees from area businesses.

Photo: Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney sprinkles diced tomatoes on the world's largest Navajo taco. Photo: N.M. Tourism Department/AP ( enlarge photo )

  McKinney finished the construction by using a cherry-picker truck to sprinkle diced tomatoes in the taco's center.

  Hundreds of residents and visitors then proceeded to devour it. In fact, the taco wasn't big enough to feed everyone, so organizers said they will consider making an even bigger one next year.

  The giant taco was the centerpiece for the communitywide Wild West Day events that included Indian dancers, family trail rides, a hot-air balloon mass ascension, blues guitar contest and trap shooting contest.

  Lee said the objective was to highlight tourism in Gallup, a city located near the Navajo Nation, and to bring residents together for a cause.