Venezuela cooks world’s largest Christmas hallaca

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans may be struggling with shortages of basic food items, but Christmas treats were in abundant supply Saturday.

With some help from the Ministry of Nutrition, some cooks set a record for making the world’s biggest hallaca — Venezuela’s version of the tamale that is traditionally eaten in December.

Cooks add the finishing touches to the world’s largest Pan de Jamón in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 15. Hundreds of cooks and spectators were on hand for the creation of the Pan de Jamón, a Christmas specialty in which ham is rolled in sweet bread, as well as the world’s biggest hallaca, a local take on the tamale traditionally eaten in December. (AP photo)

Hundreds of spectators were on hand for the creation of the huge hallaca, which features pork, beef, chicken, olives and raisins folded into corn dough and wrapped in a banana leaf. The Guinness Book of World Records certified the nearly 400-foot-long creation as the world’s largest.

Officials weigh the world’s largest Pan de Jamón in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 15. Hundreds of cooks and spectators were on hand for the creation of the Pan de Jamón, a Christmas specialty in which ham is rolled in sweet bread, as well as the world’s biggest hallaca, a local take on the tamale traditionally eaten in December. (AP photo)

The event also saw the rollout of the world’s largest pan de jamon. That’s another Christmas specialty in which ham is rolled in sweet bread.