World's Largest Spaghetti Dinner, world record in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States--About 2,500 pounds of dry pasta and 900 gallons of meat sauce were used at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, during the 66th consecutive renewal of the pasta extravaganza, which sets the world record for the World's Largest Spaghetti Dinner, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"The sauce is what sells it,” Jerry Anagnostopoulos says about The World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner and Greek Pastry Sale, which is scheduled from 10 a.m-7 p.m. today at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church along Oakridge Avenue in Haymount. “It’s been a huge blessing over the years. Just the longevity of it. Hopefully, we’ll sell out," the City View reports.
"“We have 2,500 pounds of dry pasta and 900 gallons of meat sauce,” says Anagnostopoulos, 41, who, along with Kotsopoulos, is co-chair of the 66th consecutive renewal of the pasta extravaganza (circa 1958), which has evolved into something of a Fayetteville rite each November. Kotsopoulos is the son-in-law of Pete Parrous."
"A long-standing spaghetti dinner fundraiser continues to benefit multiple charities in Fayetteville. The Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church held its 66th Annual World Largest Spaghetti Dinner on Wednesday," the CBS 17 reports.
"What started as a small dinner to raise money for the church nearly seven decades ago has grown into a pasta and sauce assembly line, serving lunch and dinner for close to 8,000 people.
"Jim Stephenson, who has been supporting and coming for spaghetti dinners for at least 30 years, said, “Not only are you getting a good meal, but you also seeing the funds go to needy people.”
"The dinner was the brainchild of Pete Parrous. In 1958, he came up with the idea to help pay off the mortgage of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Parrous owned Luigi's Restaurant in Fayetteville," the WRAL reports.
"Since then, the community has rallied around the family and the event that sells more than 10,000 spaghetti dinners every year.
"It's a massive undertaking with employees from just about of all the Greek-owned restaurants in town boiling a mountain of spaghetti and stirring an ocean of secret recipe sauce into the perfect spaghetti dinner."
"Over the past 56 years, it's been a labor of love for members of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. It takes 4,000 pounds of dry spaghetti, and 900 gallons of tomato sauce to feed folks each fall," the ABC 11 reports.
"Add some baklava and dozens of other Greek treats, and you have yourself the popular "World's Largest Spaghetti Dinner" fundraiser. Early Wednesday morning, volunteers began preparing thousands of pounds of spaghetti in the Haymount church's kitchen. Plates sell for $7 and proceeds benefit local charities."
Related world records:
