Binh Quoi Tourism Village has won first prize for making the biggest fried sticky-rice ball at the Taste of the World Festival in HCMC. The ball was 187cm in circumference, 59.9cm in diameter and 41.5cm high.

Vo Van Truong, representative of the Permanent Council of the Centre for Vietnam Record Books, said the size was a new record in Vietnam.

Binh Quoi Tourism Village competed with five other teams from Binh Duong Hotel, Van Thanh Tourism Park, Dong Nai Tourism Company, Hai Bi and Thao Ngoan restaurants.

Thousands of visitors watched the cooks as they made the golden-brown, sweet-smelling fried-rice balls.

In another contest, the chefs of Binh Quoi Tourism Village and Hai Bi Restaurant won the gold medal for their best sticky-rice dish, followed by Binh Duong Hotel with the silver medal, and Van Thanh Tourism Park and Dong Nai Tourism Company with bronze medals.

The jury, who were members of the HCMC Chefs’ Association, judged the balls on their size, appearance and taste.

The jury said it was especially impressed with Binh Duong Hotel chefs, who had skillfully pulled out the soft interior of the ball.

When the sticky rice ball puffs up to a certain level, chefs make a hole to release the superfluous rice inside, and then stuff the hole with sticky rice. This method makes the ball thinner and crispier.

The chef has to knead, watch the heat and use a spoon or spatula to press the ball and make it puff up.

The fried sticky-rice ball dish originated in 1952 at a restaurant in Dong Nai Province.

Tuyet Hong and Tan Hiep restaurants in Dong Nai are famous for this dish, which is served with roasted chicken.