Cook-A-Thon: Hilda Baci breaks current Guinness World Record for longest cooking time

Chef Hilda Baci on Monday morning, smashed the 87 hours 45 minutes record set by now-former Guinness World Record holder, Indian chef, Lata Tondon.

Tondon had set the record in India in 2019, but the Nigerian chef blew past that record at 7:46 am on Monday, May 15, 2023, clocking 87 hours and 46 minutes.

Recall that Baci in a quest to achieve the record began a four-day ‘cook-a-thon’ at Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos state on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at exactly 4pm when she put on her cooker.

The 27-year-old has been cooking nonstop since 4 pm on Thursday, May 11, and plans to keep cooking till 4 pm today to reach her record goal of 96 hours.

Before now, Miss Baci has hit significant milestones in her record breaking attempt.

As at yesterday, she has surpassed 77 hours and counting. So far, Hilda has cooked over 140 meals and served over 3000 people. Baci will keep cooking until she reaches her record goal of 96 hours.

Many believe Baci’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record has been nothing but awe-inspiring to Nigerians and women around the world as this attempt has had an influx of Nigerians at the venue of the cook-a-thon to see her break this record and thousands more, following live events closely via social media.

Baci it would be recalled, had earlier won the maiden edition of the Jollof Face-off Competition in 2021, pocketing a grand prize of $5000.

Hilda has become a viral sensation with a massive wave of support from Nigerians as many people online have wished her well, and politicians and celebrities have called her or stopped by to encourage her at the Amore Gardens location where she’s been cooking.

Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-olu, is one of the personalities that visited Chef Hilda Baci as she attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest cooking by an individual.

President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has congratulated chef Hilda Baci for breaking the Guinness World Record for the ‘longest cooking time’.

Tinubu who had earlier thrown his weight behind her quest sends the congratulatory message on his Twitter handle on Monday, May 15, 2023.

“I congratulate Hilda Effiong Bassey on her record-breaking achievement. It was a remarkable display of the Nigerian can-do attitude and the spirit of excellence that lies within. We are all deeply proud of her,” he tweeted.

Evang. (Mrs.) Dorathy James who is an Akwa Ibom State indigene while on a phone conversation with LENS Reporter in Calabar attributed the achievement to the resilience spirit of the Akwa Ibom people which have made them to attain great heights.

She also appreciated the former Akwa Ibom State Governor and top contender to the office of the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly Senator Godswill Akpabio and Her Excellency Mrs. Margaret Peter Obi for visiting Chef Hilda to support her effort to place Akwa Ibom in the Guinness Book of Records.

Support has also been pouring in from brands like Vesti, Zaron Cosmetics and many others.

Hilda Baci is a multi-talented foodprenuer renowned for her exceptional homemade tasty recipes, TV producer, actress and presenter.

A graduate of Sociology from Madonna University, Okija, she is the founder of My Food by Hilda, a premium restaurant and delivery service for African and continental dishes.

Hilda’s foray into catering was influenced by her mother’s culinary techniques prior to establishing ‘My Food’ with her brother while a student. She extended her skills to television, starting with the cooking segment, In My Kitchen, on Rave TV’s breakfast show, Morning Rave. She was also the host of Dine on A Budget, on Pop Central TV, where she engaged celebrities on topical issues and treated them to a good dining experience.

Prior to Dine on a Budget, she worked as the lunch division manager for a breakfast company, Breaking King, where she gathered experience in operating a culinary business.

She started MyFoodbyHilda in February 2020 from a tiny apartment in Ikate where she made bowl recipes for various clients during the lockdown, increasing her customer base online and offline.

Hilda began sharing recipes online which precipitated her first online class. She got encouraged to continue on a bigger scale after seeing the benefits on the students while still running home cooking.

Over time, her audience grew with an increase in demand for her recipes prompting her decision to open a physical restaurant from her savings. The hard work paid off as her first premium fast-food restaurant was launched in June 2022 and has since catered to an incredible number of clients.

Hilda showcased her acting prowess as the supporting lead character in Dream Chaser, a movie directed by students of the MultiChoice Talent Factory which got nominated for best movie at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).

She also featured in other prominent movies and soap operas including Sideways, Flatmates, A Walk on the Water, and Mr & Mrs Robert.

In 2020, she co-hosted MTN Y’ello Star, a reality music project to build capacity among young Nigerian talents while they get recognised on the international scene.

She affirmed her cooking talent further when she represented Nigeria at the Jollof Faceoff Competition in 2021 emerging as the winner, providing more drive for her entrepreneurial vision. She was also a recipient of the Starz Awards Personality of the Year.

To encourage and empower other talents through their culinary journey, Hilda has trained over 2,500 students giving prizes and incentives to the best-performing students.

She is a humanitarian who believes that everyone deserves well-prepared meals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she provided over 3,000 meals to less privileged communities for social impact.

The Guinness Book of Records is a reference book that contains human and natural world records.

It was first published in 1955 by the Guinness Brewery in Ireland and has since become one of the world’s most well-known and frequently read reference books.

Individuals or groups must submit proof to the Guinness World Records team and go through a verification process to qualify for a world record listing.