Venezuela lauds world records for Christmas dinner
Alexandra Ulmer, Reuters
First posted: Saturday, November 15, 2014 07:19 PM EST | Updated: Saturday, November 15, 2014 07:39 PM EST
CARACAS - Venezuela praised its 'socialist revolution' for a culinary conquest on Saturday: Guinness World Records for the country's beloved Christmas dinner staples.
A cook-a-thon in capital Caracas landed Venezuela records for the biggest ham-filled bread, sugar cane juice infused with lemon, and 'hallaca,' a cornmeal dish wrapped in plantain leaves.
"Made in socialism, made in revolution," Food Minister Yvan Bello said in a flurry of celebratory tweets.
"The people are celebrating, Venezuela is a country of records, of achievements, thanks to the revolution!," he added, feting the 20-meter bread, 12,000-liter drink and 120-meter 'hallaca.'
The initiative comes as Venezuelans struggle ahead of the holiday season due to shortages of basic goods and sky-high inflation that crimps purchasing power.
Leftist president Nicolas Maduro has launched a plan dubbed "Operation Merry Christmas" to lower the cost of toys, clothes and appliances for shoppers amid the weakening economy.
Critics blast the measures as unsustainable distractions to mask the OPEC country's deeper problems.
Bakers assemble a giant ham bread, a typical Venezuelan Christmas dish, during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest ham bread, in Caracas November 15, 2014. The giant ham bread was 20 metres long and weighed 284 kilograms. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Venezuela lauds world records for Christmas dinner | Weird | News | Toronto Sun
Alexandra Ulmer, Reuters
First posted: Saturday, November 15, 2014 07:19 PM EST | Updated: Saturday, November 15, 2014 07:39 PM EST
CARACAS - Venezuela praised its 'socialist revolution' for a culinary conquest on Saturday: Guinness World Records for the country's beloved Christmas dinner staples.
A cook-a-thon in capital Caracas landed Venezuela records for the biggest ham-filled bread, sugar cane juice infused with lemon, and 'hallaca,' a cornmeal dish wrapped in plantain leaves.
"Made in socialism, made in revolution," Food Minister Yvan Bello said in a flurry of celebratory tweets.
"The people are celebrating, Venezuela is a country of records, of achievements, thanks to the revolution!," he added, feting the 20-meter bread, 12,000-liter drink and 120-meter 'hallaca.'
The initiative comes as Venezuelans struggle ahead of the holiday season due to shortages of basic goods and sky-high inflation that crimps purchasing power.
Leftist president Nicolas Maduro has launched a plan dubbed "Operation Merry Christmas" to lower the cost of toys, clothes and appliances for shoppers amid the weakening economy.
Critics blast the measures as unsustainable distractions to mask the OPEC country's deeper problems.
Bakers assemble a giant ham bread, a typical Venezuelan Christmas dish, during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest ham bread, in Caracas November 15, 2014. The giant ham bread was 20 metres long and weighed 284 kilograms. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Venezuela lauds world records for Christmas dinner | Weird | News | Toronto Sun