A huge pot which made the Guinness World Book of Records because of its sheer size will be heading Malta's way to feed as many as 5,000 people for charity.

The event is being organised in aid of Dar Tal-Providenza on the occasion of the Vittoriosa By Candlelight event on October 17.

The maxi pentolone, as it is fondly known, was first used in June 18, 1998 when it entered the Guinness World of Records with risotto with luganiga, a typical dish of the Piedmont region. The event was broadcast live on RAI UNO during Il Paese Delle Meraviglie.

The same risotto will be cooked in Malta using over 20 chickens, 20 kilos of beef, 90 kilos of luganiga sausages, 20 kilos of cheese, 300 kilos of rice, 60 kilos of vegetables and 120 litres of white wine.

The culinary event is being coordinated by the student chefs of the Institute of Tourism Studies under the guidance of a master Italian chef who will be accompanying the pentolone to Malta.

On the night, portions of risotto will sell for €3; €2 of which will be donated to the Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi.

The initiative came about through a recent twinning initiative between Vittoriosa and the northern Italian town of Casorate Sempione. The twinning agreement aims at enhancing the economic ties between the two localities and providing an entertaining event that will also be used to fund charitable institutions.

This maxi pentolone has already travelled to a number of Italian cities as well as Manchester and Sardegna.

Made of stainless steel, the pot weighs 520 kilos and has a diameter of 3.3 metres. As the risotto is cooked during the annual Vittoriosa By Candlelight, it will have to be stirred continuously by nine cooks using wooden oars.