Chefs set fried rice world record<\/p>\n
By Yuli Tri Suwarni<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Bandung has always attracted the attention of
\ndomestic and foreign tourists, especially with its various
\nculinary offerings. The city's ambition to set a record within
\nthe world of cuisine attracted thousands of people who flocked to
\nGasibu square on Aug. 25. They wanted to witness a new world
\nrecord created by Bandung chefs in making 5,000 kilograms of
\nfried rice. The record was later also recognized by Indonesia's
\nRecord Museum (MURI).<\/p>\n
Forty five chefs of 19 star-rated hotels and 26 restaurant
\nchefs, members of the Bandung Chefs Association, collaborated to
\ncraft new history in the capital of West Java. They were also
\nassisted by 90 cooks' assistants, who had been trained for only
\ntwo days, to cook the fried rice made from 2,001 kilograms of
\nrice.<\/p>\n
The two-hour cooking process was eventually speeded up to only
\n35 minutes and when the chefs lifted their one-meter wooden
\nspatulas and shouted \"Bandung! Bandung! Bandung!,\" they were
\ngreeted warmly by spectators.<\/p>\n
\"It's beyond our expectation. The flames were very hot and
\nthat really helped us to cook fast,\" said head of the chefs Deddy
\nSurachman.<\/p>\n
Fried rice was chosen as it is the most popular item of cooked
\nfood in the country and the most-ordered by hotel guests.
\nAlthough cooking fried rice was their daily job, in this
\nparticular event, they found problems in preparing the food.<\/p>\n
\"We had to be very careful, otherwise we'd have failed to set
\na record,\" remarked Deddy.<\/p>\n
The idea of creating the record occurred when public transport
\ndrivers went on strike in mid-June. Even though the strike only
\naffected Bandung, tourism businesspeople were afraid that it
\nwould tarnish the city's image as a tourist resort.<\/p>\n
\"The purpose of the event was to improve the city's image,\"
\nsaid Chairman of the Bandung Chefs Association, Sugiharta.<\/p>\n
The event was also staged to commemorate Indonesia's 56th
\nIndependence Day which fell on Aug. 17, but the city police only
\nallowed the event to take place after that day due to security
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
Large size<\/p>\n
Large-sized cooking devices were designed by stove craftsmen
\nand pansmiths from Cibuntu, Bandung, who worked for seven
\nconsecutive days to make a giant pan measuring 1.8 meters wide by
\n17 meters long, eight round kettles with a one-meter diameter and
\n45 kerosene stoves; all the above figures represented the date of
\nIndonesia's Independence Day.<\/p>\n
The figure 56 was symbolized by the 56 orphanages and old-age
\ninstitutions in the city to which the fried rice would be given
\naway, besides visitors.<\/p>\n
The chefs cooked some 2,200 kg rice and mixed it with 450 kg
\nof minced chicken, 495 kg of eggs and 99 kg of cut meatballs that
\nwere fried using 225 kg of cooking oil. The eggs had been fried
\nearlier.<\/p>\n
Seasoning was made from 271 kg of readymade fried rice
\nflavoring, 19 kg of aromatics, 495 kg of sweetened soy sauce, 225
\nkg of shallots, 45 kg of garlic, 162 kg of leeks, 135 kg of red
\nchilis, plus 9 kg each of salt and white pepper. When the fried
\nrice was ready, 162 kg of fried shallots were strewn on top.<\/p>\n
All measurements of the ingredients were witnessed by MURI
\nmanager Paulus Pangka.<\/p>\n
To determine the combination of fried rice ingredients that
\nwould produce 50,000 portions, the chefs had had six weeks of
\ndiscussion beforehand.<\/p>\n
\"We had tryouts in 10 previous tests on a smaller scale. It
\nwas rather hard to blend the chefs' ideas with different cooking
\nmethods and styles,\" Deddy said.<\/p>\n
All participating chefs had to undergo health tests and they
\nhad to be free of lung and heart diseases and color blindness as
\nconfirmed by doctors, said Rohendi of Savoy Homann hotel. They
\ndidn't make special preparations but had a rehearsal only two
\ndays prior to the event.<\/p>\n
Delay<\/p>\n
All chefs were ready from 7 a.m., an hour earlier than the
\nscheduled start time, but some invitees came late, causing a two-
\nhour delay of some prior ceremonial events, including a Sundanese
\nmask dance and Barongsai (dragon dance).<\/p>\n
Three parachutists landing at the square handed over a one-
\nmeter wooden spatula and a chef's costume to Sugiharta, followed
\nby a procession in which naturally derived fire from the Cijoged
\nestate in Kalijati, Subang, was escorted by 17 motorcyclists from
\nthe Bandung BMW Club, 45 others motorbike riders and eight jeeps
\nof the local jeep club, also marking the same date.<\/p>\n
West Java Legislative Assembly chairman Eka Santosa officially
\ninitiated the event by lighting the stove. But unfortunately it
\nfailed to burn, thereby requiring the makers to immediately make
\nrepairs to all of them, while the large number of impatient
\nspectators pushed and broke open the 1.2-meter-high fence to get
\na better view.<\/p>\n
\"We intentionally stopped by in Bandung on our way to Jakarta
\nto visit our family,\" said Mohammad Akib of Makassar, South
\nSulawesi, who brought his family along. \"We read in the
\nnewspapers that Bandung would host the event and we decided to
\nwitness it.\"<\/p>\n
At the end of the cooking spree, Paulus symbolically presented
\nthe museum's award to the 19 star-rated hotels that had
\nparticipated in the event.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee later made a report in writing and
\nproduced a video recording of the event to be delivered to the
\ncommittee of the Guinness Book of World Records so that it could
\nbe included in the next edition.<\/p>\n
Sugiharta said a fried rice-making record had never before
\nbeen established anywhere in the world. In October 2000, Waga-
\nwaga restaurant in Australia listed a four-ton steamed rice-
\nmaking record.<\/p>\n
\"Let's hope this accomplishment will restore Bandung's
\nreputation, which was marred by riots in mid-June,\" Sugiharta
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chefs-set-fried-rice-world-record-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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