Hilda Baci achieves Guinness World Record as the Longest Cooking Marathon Champion
Nigerian culinary expert, Hilda Baci, officially recognized as Guinness World Record holder for the longest cooking marathon
According to a statement on its official website, the Guinness World Records has officially declared Hilda Effiong Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, as the new record holder for the longest cooking marathon (individual).
After conducting a comprehensive examination of all the evidence, Guinness World Records has confirmed Hilda's outstanding achievement of completing the marathon in an impressive time of 93 hours and 11 minutes.
It should be noted that the 26-year-old Nigerian chef embarked on her culinary journey on Thursday, May 11, and persevered until Monday, May 15. Throughout the remarkable four-day cooking marathon, Hilda skillfully prepared over 100 pots of food.
Guinness World Records explained that Hilda initially aimed to establish a record of 100 hours. However, due to an inadvertent mistake in timing during one of her rest breaks early in the attempt, nearly seven hours were deducted from her final total.
As per the guidelines set by the Guinness World Records for "longest marathon" records, participants are allowed a five-minute rest break for every consecutive hour of activity. These rest breaks can be accumulated if not utilized, but they were the only periods during which Hilda could take bathroom breaks or rest during her endeavor.
It is worth mentioning that the previous record of 87 hours and 45 minutes was held by Lata Tondon from India, established in 2019.
Hilda, on the other hand, expressed her motivation for pursuing this record as a means to "put Nigerian cuisine on the map" and to serve as an inspiration for young African women, encouraging them to pursue their dreams.
"I also made the decision to break this record to genuinely challenge myself and push my limits," she further explained.
To prepare for the event, Hilda meticulously crafted a comprehensive menu consisting of 35 different items, which served as her guiding reference for every meal she cooked.
She diligently ensured that she had all the required ingredients for each recipe, and her team promptly procured additional food items during the cook-a-thon as needed, ensuring that supplies were topped up appropriately.
Hilda's remarkable record attempt created a global sensation on social media, captivating millions of people in Nigeria and beyond who eagerly followed her journey through a live stream on Instagram.
The overwhelming popularity of Hilda's cook-a-thon reached such heights that the Guinness World Records website experienced a two-day crash, attributed to the enormous influx of traffic generated by her dedicated and enthusiastic fan base, as stated by GWR.
Hilda received support from numerous prominent Nigerian figures throughout her record attempt, including Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, and the renowned singer Tiwa Savage.
During her groundbreaking cook-a-thon, Hilda adhered to several rules, one of which mandated that there must be a minimum of two items being prepared or cooked simultaneously at any given time.
Additionally, the second rule permitted a sous-chef to assist with prep work, kitchen cleaning, and dishwashing, while the individual attempting the record was solely responsible for all cooking tasks.
GWR emphasized that one of the fundamental rules for food-related record attempts is that all items must be consumed following the cooking process.
In line with this requirement, Hilda extended an open invitation to the Nigerian public, inviting them to enjoy her freshly prepared meals. Any remaining food was generously donated to the Festus Fajemilo Foundation, ensuring that no food went to waste.
Hilda expressed that both her team and herself aimed to make this event accessible to all, with the intention of feeding the less privileged.
According to Hilda, each pot of food she cooked was sized to serve approximately 30-35 people, and meticulous stock control measures were implemented to prevent any unnecessary food wastage.
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