December 1, 2023
Verenice Mackey
Photos: qphotonyc
Hundreds of people came out here last Saturday to participate in the official attempt at the Guinness Record for World’s Biggest Sancocho. A “sancocho grande” is only about 32 ounces when you order one from an Inwood restaurant, but for the World record it was far, far bigger.
All afternoon a steady stream of trucks backed up to a steel cooking vessel the size of an above ground swimming pool to deliver meat, vegetables and water. Cooks and volunteers stirred the traditional stew with big paddles the size of rowboat oars to keep the ingredients from sticking. Clear plastic bags full of ingredients were so heavy it took two people to carry them. An announcer said 26,000 pounds of meat went into this sancocho. Bands played and people danced in the stands of the amphitheater, located in the Parque del Este, in Santo Domingo, as the sancocho simmered for hours.
Santo Domingo East’s Mayor, Manuel Jimenez, told the Gazette, “In our country one of our brands is sancocho. We broke a record with mangu and today we will do it with sancocho.”
Manuel Jimenez (R) at the Guinness event.
Jhack Sepulveda, a Public Health official, was on hand to ensure Quality Control for the event. He’s originally from Colombia and is married to a Dominican. Jhack said he’s proud to be here for this event. “A sancocho of 36,000 pounds has never been made,” he said.
Jhack Sepulveda (R) and Gazette reporter.
Chef Facelly Matias came from Pennsylvania to participate in this event. “I left this country when I was seventeen and the sancocho, in my family, is a tradition.”
Chef Facelly Matias
Waiting to taste the World’s Biggest Sancocho.