First up, Hilda Baci, has stirred up a flavorful debate. In a recent podcast, she boldly claimed that Nigerian Jollof rice is superior in flavor compared to other versions, including Ghanaian Jollof. This statement comes after her experience in a cooking competition against a Ghanaian chef and her knowledge of the recipe used in Ghanaian Jollof. Baci’s remarks have sparked a heated reaction, particularly from Ghanaians who see it as a subtle dig at their national dish.
In another exciting development, the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon has been claimed by Alan Fisher, a chef from Japan. Fisher, nicknamed ‘the island man’, cooked for a staggering 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci by more than 24 hours. Not only did Fisher set a new record for cooking, but he also broke the record for the longest baking marathon, clocking in at 47 hours and 21 minutes. These feats were achieved back-to-back, with little rest in between, showcasing Fisher’s extraordinary endurance and passion for cooking.
Let’s rewind to earlier this year, when Hilda Baci, a 26-year-old Nigerian chef, was in the spotlight for her own record-setting cooking marathon. She cooked non-stop from May 11th to May 15th, preparing over 100 pots of food. Despite aiming for 100 hours, her final count was adjusted due to a minor miscalculation in her rest break. Even with this adjustment, Baci succeeded in breaking the previous record of 87 hours and 45 minutes, set by Lata Tondon from India in 2019.
These stories highlight the dynamic and competitive spirit of the culinary world. From the playful rivalry over Jollof rice to the intense dedication required for record-breaking cooking marathons, these chefs and personalities continue to capture our imagination and taste buds.