Thursday, July 23, 2009
World Largest Wedding Cake World Record
A giant coconut-covered, chocolate-soaked sponge cake half the size of a car was unveiled in northern Australia on Tuesday in a world record baking attempt.
The 1.3-tonne Australian speciality cake, known as a "lamington," took three days to bake and was presented at an official weigh-in for Guinness World Records in the town of Ipswich, local councilman Paul Tully said.
"It's a pretty big lamington, about ... half the size of a small family sedan," Tully told public broadcaster ABC Radio.
"There'll be the equivalent of 20,000 small lamingtons, it's a pretty big lamington in anyone's book."
Hundreds of eggs and about 70 kilograms (154 pounds) of coconut were used to make the lamington, which was baked to celebrate the national day held in its honour.
"Long live the lamington," declared Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale at the great cake's unveiling.
"I officially declare Ipswich the home of the world's largest lamington."
Lamingtons are considered a culinary institution across the great, dry continent, and are a staple at citizenship ceremonies, cake stalls and on national holidays.
Local legend has it that the square cake had its humble beginnings at the turn of the 20th century in the homestead of Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington and then-governor of Queensland state.
Lord Lamington's maidservant was said to have dropped a piece of sponge in some melted chocolate and was then urged to roll it in coconut to soak up the sauce and serve it up to her master.
He was apparently underwhelmed by the innovation, being said to have dubbed them "those bloody poofy woolly biscuits".
Two trucks were dispatched to ferry Tuesday's giant cake to homeless people and construction workers, after documentation for the world record attempt.