Youssef El Gatou, a renowned Moroccan pastry chef residing in France, has officially etched his name in the Guinness World Records by creating the longest strawberry cake ever made. The impressive dessert measured a staggering 121.88 meters, surpassing the previous record by a significant margin. The event took place inside a skating rink located in Argenteuil, a suburban area just outside Paris, where the massive cake was assembled and displayed for the public to witness.
Before El Gatou’s achievement, the Guinness World Record for the longest strawberry cake was held by a group of Italian pastry chefs, who set the record in 2019 at 100.48 meters in length. That record was established during the San Mauro strawberry festival in Turin, Italy. El Gatou’s creation has now surpassed that mark, setting a new benchmark for pastry chefs around the world.
In an extraordinary display of teamwork and expertise, El Gatou and a group of chefs—both Moroccan and French —worked tirelessly to assemble the record-breaking cake within a span of just 24 hours. The process required meticulous planning, precision, and culinary skill, and the cake’s creation did not stop there. Once the massive dessert was completed, it took an additional week of work to ensure that every detail was perfected and that the cake was ready for public viewing.
The final result was a dessert so large that it had to be placed on tables throughout the ice rink, allowing curious onlookers to admire its sheer size. The record-setting cake was weighed at 1.2 tonnes and was made from an incredible amount of ingredients, including 4,000 eggs, 150 kg of sugar, 560 kg of cream, and 350 kg of fresh strawberries. The scale of this project required careful coordination and an immense amount of labor to execute.
Official judges from the Guinness World Records attended the event to verify the achievement. After rigorous measurement and documentation, the record was officially confirmed. This marked a significant milestone in El Gatou’s career and was a proud moment for both him and the teams of professionals who contributed to the project.
El Gatou expressed his immense pride in the accomplishment during an interview, acknowledging the vital support he received from both Moroccan and French pastry chefs. Among the notable figures who lent their expertise was Nicolas Bernardi, a celebrated French chef who holds the prestigious title of “Best Pastry Chef in France.” Bernardi’s involvement helped elevate the level of craftsmanship involved in the cake’s creation.
Once the record was confirmed, the celebratory atmosphere continued with a public event where the enormous cake was shared with the community. Members of the Moroccan diaspora in France attended the event to enjoy the cake, which was distributed in portions to local retirement homes, hospitals, firefighters, and the Red Cross. This charitable gesture highlighted the spirit of giving and the communal joy that the cake brought to the region.
This achievement is not the first time El Gatou has taken on an ambitious culinary challenge. In 2020, he crafted a 20-meter “Galette des Rois,” a traditional French pastry typically made to celebrate Epiphany. In 2021, his pastry shop won second place in a prestigious regional croissant competition, further cementing his reputation as a skilled and innovative pastry chef.
El Gatou’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of pastry-making and his ability to bring together diverse teams of culinary experts continue to make him a prominent figure in the world of French and Moroccan pastry arts. With his latest Guinness World Record, he has set a new standard for creativity and craftsmanship in the industry, inspiring future generations of pastry chefs worldwide.