Saturday, March 26, 2011

 Largest corn flour patty (arepa): Empresas Polar sets world record (Video)

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Employees of Empresas Polar, Venezuela's largest food company, a flattened corn flour patty (arepa) weighing 1,087.31 pounds (493.2 kilos) and 19.7 feet (6 meters) across - setting the new world record for the Largest arepa .

  Photo:Workers make the world's largest arepa in Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: Ariana Cubillos / AP ( enlarge photo )

  The previous Guinness world record was 440 pounds (200 kilos).

A representative of Guinness World Records certified the record weight after the giant arepa was cooked for hours over a heated metal plate and the water used to mix the dough evaporated.

  The huge arepa was cooked at the headquarters of Empresas Polar, Venezuela's largest food producer. The event was organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Polar's introduction of precooked corn flour widely used to make arepas.   

  Arepas, which vaguely resemble Mexican tamales, are a traditional favorite in this South American country and neighboring Colombia. The patties are usually stuffed with fillings like shredded beef, cheese or black beans.