Philippine “Fish-tival” Sets World Record for Longest Barbecue Grill
OutdoorHub Reporters 04.09.14
Last Friday, residents of Bayamang in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines lined up for a massive fish grill-off stretching over five miles long. According to the Manila Standard Today, an official from the Guinness Book of World Records certified the event as the world’s longest barbecue grill. The previous record was held by a town in Turkey, which came in at just under four miles.
“This will be a historical moment now for Bayambang because I have the honor to announce a new record holder for longest barbecue grill with exactly 8.016 kilometers,” Guinness event adjudicator Seyda Subasi declared after three hours of grilling.
The Business Mirror reported that this is the third time a “Fish-tival” was held in Pangasinan. Known to locals as a Malangasi Festival, the event is a celebration of the area’s culture and fishing customs. More than 500,000 people came from all parts of the country to participate. While the main attraction was the 8.13-kilometer-long fish grilling line, other venues included live music from popular bands, dancing, and even a literary contest. It is estimated that over 60,000 fish were grilled and consumed during the event.
The majority of the fish cooked during the ceremony were tilapia, a local favorite. Event organizers say that even the five-mile line of grills were not able to handle the amount of fish prepared for the festival. Over 110,000 pounds of fish had to be cooked in two separate rounds, while leftovers were distributed to revelers in the street party that followed the grilling.
“We will never forget this and we will maintain the grilling every year, although with shorter length.” Bayambang Mayor Ricardo Camacho told The Philippine Star.
In comparison, the longest-lasting barbecue marathon took place in Pretoria, South Africa in 2012. For 62 hours and six minutes, chef Gareth Daniell grilled 485 pounds of meat for charity.
