PORT OF LOS ANGELES LOBSTER FESTIVAL SHATTERS GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR SEAFOOD PREPARED AT AN OUTDOOR EVENT
Almost 42,000 visitors attend 11th annual event at Ports 0’ Call Village
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — September 21, 2009 — Securing its spot as the world’s largest event of its kind, the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival set a new Guinness World Record for The Most Seafood Prepared at an Outdoor Event as nearly 42,000 visitors enjoyed the annual event this past weekend at San Pedro’s Ports O’Call Village.
“This event continues to grow because it’s more entertaining each year!” said Los Angeles Harbor Commission Vice President Jerilyn López Mendoza, a longstanding fan of the Lobster Dog Parade. “Besides the first-class lobster and other great food, the combination of entertainment and activities make this a great family atmosphere.”
On Saturday, the 11th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival shattered the old record for The Most Seafood Prepared at an Outdoor Event of 3,835 pounds in just over two hours. By 9 p.m. Saturday, the new world record set by the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival was 12,527 pounds and four ounces.
Under the supervision of Guinness Adjudicator Carlos Martinez and The Fine Living Network’s Chef Chris Cognac, San Pedro Fish Markets cooked and prepared the meals. The record-setting meal was purchased by James Lam of Alhambra. Councilwoman Janice Hahn announced the new world record shortly after 9 p.m. in the lobster serving area.
“The Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival continues to be the premier lobster festival in the world,” said Festival organizer Jim Hall. “We’re thankful to the community that comes out and supports it each year. Now it’s official: There is nothing else like it.”
At the LobsterDog Pet Parade, a festival favorite where dogs compete in costumes of sea creatures, top honors went to a dog named Bobby Gorgeous. Bobby’s owner, Gia Pamona, had Bobby decked out in a bioluminescent Lion Fish costume. Other dog winners were dressed as Nemo, a sea lion, a lobster plate and a jumbo shrimp (with cocktail sauce).
This year’s Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival was sponsored by the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Budweiser, King’s Hawaiian, The Daily Breeze, 98.7FM, 100.3FM, LA Weekly and OC Weekly.
A portion of the proceeds from the Festival’s First Class Ticket sales benefitted the community outreach programs of the Harbor Interfaith organization. Other community partners included the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Italian-American Club and San Pedro Rotary.
The Port of Los Angeles, also known as “America’s Port,” has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy and the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. A recipient of numerous environmental awards, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Air Excellence Award, the Port of Los Angeles is committed to innovating cleaner, greener ways of doing business. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars.
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