Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez plans to serve up the biggest pot of soup in history tomorrow to feed more than 60,000 people as the country faces shortages of basic foods including milk and eggs.

The government will close down the Avenida Bolivar in downtown Caracas to cook a massive ``sancocho,'' a traditional stew of beef, chicken, vegetables and potatoes, in a 15,000- liter (3,958-gallon) pot.

``It's going to break the Guinness record,'' said Rafael Oropeza, the country's nourishment minister, in comments broadcast today by state television. ``There's enough to celebrate with the family and with all of the citizens that want to participate.''

The event will commemorate the third anniversary of the creation of the foods ministry, as the government tries to address food shortages amid a surge in consumer demand. Demand for meat, flour and cooking oil has outstripped supply this year in Venezuela, helping push the country's inflation rate to 15.9 percent, the highest in Latin America.

The government will also hold its biggest ever state- sponsored open market in downtown Caracas tomorrow. The so- called ``mega-mercado'' will have 150 booths offering groceries at discount prices, according to the information ministry.

The current Guinness record for the biggest soup was set in Durango, Mexico in July, with a 5,045-liter pot chili-beef soup, according to the record authority's Web site.

To contact the reporter on this story: Matthew Walter in Caracas at mwalter4@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 14, 2007 18:31 EDT