Ecuador’s Huecafest sets record with local meals, sells nearly 20,000 plates in 12 hours

A gigantic gastronomic showcase in Quito, Ecuador has taken the record for the most Ecuadorian cuisine dishes sold in 12 hours, after preparing 19,327 individual meals for festivalgoers in a mouthwatering display of local culinary pride.

This 7-10 August, the Huecafest food festival at Parque Bicentenario hosted thousands of guests for a celebration of regional Ecuadorian culture with a stunning array of classic meals, drinks, and entertainment. 

Vendors pulled steaming meat and seafood off the grill, chefs doused ceviche in lime for a line of customers, and the surrounding area was filled with the sounds of lively chatter and the wafting scents of different fresh food.

“Huecas” refers to local comfort meals, and the fest’s primary goal was to honour their traditional culinary heritage while driving economic growth for local restaurants and vendors.

And with that dream in mind, the organizers attempted to globalize their mission by attempting a Guinness World Records title this 9 August, obtained for selling the most Ecuadorian dishes in half a day.

Bringing in a panel of recognized culinary experts – including Chef Galo Sánchez and Chef Guido Proaño – they assessed and approved applications to ensure that there would be a variety of authentic regional recipes up for sale.

23 classic meals were admitted into the fest, and before long the park was filled with chefs and vendors who were buzzing to share their wares with attendees. 

On the day of the event, sales operations were continuously tracked using SIVENIN FOOD, a cloud-based ERP point-of-sale system that automatically recorded every purchase with a unique timestamp and cashier code. 

Hygiene and food safety standards were also continuously overseen by representatives from the national health authority (ARCSA), to make sure that no health standards were being cut in the race for the prize.

Finally, vendors were cleared to open their stalls at 8:30 a.m., and festivalgoers soon started flooding into the park, eager to take part in a world record attempt. 

Read more stories about traditional meals in our dedicated Food and Drink section!

Mom-and-pop shops passed out samples and small plates with a smile, young entrepreneurs showed off their versions of classic meals, and attendees young and old were seen munching on delicious plates of food from all across the country.

Traditional favourites included iconic dishes like hornado (roast pig), cevichocho (beans), and tripas, as well as a number of delectable desserts.

As the day progressed, the organizers took turns gathering at a giant stage, where they shared live record-breaking results with the crowd about how many plates are currently sold. 

Various musical acts and traditional cultural entertainment also took turns exciting the crowd, giving them a quick break to digest all of the wonderful food they were snacking on.

Eventually, the clock struck 8:00 p.m., and the organizers closed down the stalls 30 minutes early so they could finish completing data cross-checks and announce the official outcome before the festival concluded.

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Natalia Ramirez went over the banking information provided by ACL Global (Parker Russell International) – and she was able to reveal that Huecafest sold 19,327 items and generated $88,413.57 (£66,500) in total revenue!

“Reaching a final figure of 19,327 verified dishes is truly impressive,” said Adjudicator Natalia. “Beyond the numbers, it shows how deeply Ecuadorians value their culinary roots and how events like this bring families together to celebrate their identity.”

And the organizers at Huecafest couldn’t agree more.

“Earning a Guinness World Records title for our traditional food is a proud moment for all of Ecuador,” they said. “Huecafest was created to honour the talented hands behind our local 'huecas,' and reaching nearly 20,000 dishes sold proves how strong our community is when we come together.”

So congratulations to everyone in Quito who turned out for this incredible local event – you are all Officially Amazing!