Cole's Quality Foods Inc. always has been into garlic bread big time — but not this big.
As part of the upcoming Taste of Muskegon and Muskegon County's Sesquicentennial, Cole's will concoct a 150-inch-long loaf of garlic bread that will set a Guiness World Record for -- you guessed it -- garlic bread. The loaf will be baked in a specially crafted pan at the Cole's Muskegon plant, 1188 Lakeshore, and will be on display for the two-day Taste of Muskegon, June 20-21 in downtown Muskegon.
Because of sanitation concerns, the Muskegon County Health Department will not allow bread that has been on display outdoors for two days to be served to the public so this record-setter will be for display purposes only. Instead, Cole's employees will be slicing and serving smaller and much fresher versions of their famous 18-inch-long garlic bread.
Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, manager of Muskegon Main Street, said the idea behind the record-setting garlic loaf was the result of a brainstorming session Muskegon Sesquicentennial activist Bryan Chapman had with Cole's officials on how to tie Taste of Muskegon to Muskegon County's 150th anniversary. He said the conversation quickly turned to baking a bread loaf related to the number 150, or in this case, 150 inches.
John Sommavilla, chief operations officer for Cole's Quality Foods, said production workers concluded a loaf 12.5-feet-long-loaf could be baked in one piece at the Muskegon facility in a custom-designed metal pan.
"Our operations team was totally excited by the challenge," Sommavilla said in a prepared statement. "And we think the result will be amazing."
Cole's officials have been working with the Guiness World Records since February to make sure their quest for a title is no half-baked idea but one for the record books. As far as they can determine, Rinsema-Sybenga said, there currently is no title-holder for the world's largest garlic bread.
"It's a doable category and we're going to have a lot of fun with it," he said. "Cole's is even making plans for a huge package, which should be great for pictures."
The 150-inch long bread will be baked in a custom-fabricated pan at the Cole's production facility in downtown Muskegon, and will be transported fully cooked to the Taste of Muskegon to be unveiled when the event opens at 11 a.m. June 20. The monster-size "Garzilla" loaf will be on display at the Cole's booth throughout out the event.
"Cole's has been a great partner for our event," said Brent Mullen, Taste of Muskegon Chair. "And we are totally excited they are going to draw attention to the Taste, and the history of Muskegon County, at our event."
The Taste of Muskegon is in its third year and features 25 Muskegon restaurants.
Cole's, with headquarters in Grand Rapids, was founded as a neighborhood bakery in 1943 by L. Carroll Cole.