Peruvians set new world record for world's largest ceviche, a seafood
appetizer.

CALLAO, PERU (DECEMBER 7, 2008) REUTERS -
Peruvian chefs, elbow deep in almost seven tonnes of diced fish,
onions and lime, on Sunday (December 7) smashed the Guinness record for the
world's largest ceviche (seh-VEE-che), a Peruvian seafood specialty.
The dish, made from raw fish marinated in lime juice that
"cooks" it, weighed in at 6.8 tonnes, more than 2 tonnes bigger than
the previous record.
Some 450 students and chefs worked in an open-air stadium in Callao,
the port district of Peru's capital, dicing and mixing white fish with lime,
salt, onions and hot peppers.
A Guinness Book of Records representative was on hand to make the count
official.
"There are 5 tonnes in which there's fish, onion, lemon, salt and
spices. The quantity is truly an impressive volume which has involved dozens
or hundreds of people committed to creating a plate that has a very quick
fermentation and which requires a very expedited preparation," said
Callao's regional president Alexander Kouri, who stood in front of 14 giant
metal containers filled with fish.
To weigh the dish, students scooped the ceviche into smaller boxes that
they put on a movable scale. It took two dozen hands to lift each container.

Hundreds of local residents waited outside the stadium for a plate of
ceviche.
Ronald Espinoza, a 25-year-old student who helped make the ceviche,
said the dish gives people a reason to gather and celebrate.
"Anyone who doesn't eat ceviche can't say he's Peruvian. What
tacos are to Mexicans, ceviche is to us," said Espinoza.
The previous record for the largest ceviche, weighing in at 4.5 tonnes,
was set in Mexico in 2005. Prior to that, Peru held it at 4.1 tonnes.
"The ceviche that was prepared this morning weighed 6791 kilos
and 300 grams, which is a new Guinness world record," said Guinness
official Carlos Martinez, triggering cheers from the cooks and crowd.
Ceviche has been eaten in Peru since the time of the Incas.