8th March 2011

Ferry Chefs And Local Catering Students In Record Attempt
To Create World’s Biggest Dumpling

Cross-Channel ferry operator DFDS Seaways (formerly Norfolkline), together with Folkestone K College catering students, have attempted to break a new Guinness World Record by cooking the world’s biggest Russian Potato Dumpling.

The massive dumpling, which took over 24 hours to prepare and then cook, weighed in at a hefty 93.8 kg (equivalent to a heavyweight boxer!), and measured 1.5m by 0.75m. The measurements have been submitted to the Guinness World Records to verify, but the dumpling looks set to smash the current world record of 71.15kg, which was recorded in the Polish city of Lublin in 2005.

The Russian speciality dish is extremely popular in Poland, and to construct it took two DFDS Seaways chefs, nine catering students and two lecturers from the K College in Folkestone to mince, chop and bake the ingredients.

A special custom-made cooking pot was imported from Poland, big enough to contain 30kg flour, 6kg butter, 120 eggs, 40kg potatoes, 20kg onions and 10kg cheese needed to create the record breaking recipe.

Polish celebrity chef and entertainer Kevin Aiston was on hand to help to measure and launch the event, which included a cookery demonstration with the DFDS Seaways chefs on board a ferry sailing across the Channel.

Andrew Kelly, Marketing Manager for the DFDS Seaways English Channel route said, “We were delighted to take part in this world record breaking attempt, as it allowed us to work in partnership with K College, which hopefully gave the students an opportunity to learn what it’s like to cook on such a huge scale! Our chefs were also on hand to provide cooking tips and hints with Kevin Aiston, bringing together culinary influences from throughout Europe to Kent.”

Ann-Marie Jones, Learner Manager – Hospitality and Catering at K College said, “This was a once in a lifetime experience for our students, not many catering students are able to say that they’ve been a part of a world record attempt as part of their training! The whole event taught a lot of different skills to them, including working with a celebrity chef, and we’re delighted to have worked with DFDS Seaways and have their support in this world record attempt.”