LAGOS, Nigeria – In the competitive world of culinary arts, graciousness can be as important as skill and endurance. Hilda Baci, affectionately known as the Nigerian “Jollof Queen,” exemplified this ethos when she extended warm congratulations to the new Guinness World Records (GWR) holder for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, Irish Chef Alan Fisher.
Guinness World Records announced on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, that Fisher clinched the new record with a marathon 119 hours and 57 minutes of non-stop cooking at his restaurant in Japan, surpassing Baci’s previous record of 93 hours and 11 minutes.
This culinary feat has etched Fisher’s name into the record books, dethroning Baci just five months after her own accomplishment.
In a magnanimous response to losing her title, Baci took to her X account on Tuesday to commend Fisher’s commitment and stamina.
Her message was one of solidarity and sportsmanship in the face of her own record being surpassed: “Huge congratulations to Alan Fisher! 119hrs 57mins is a huge achievement, and I wish him all the best as the new world record holder!”
Huge congratulations to Alan Fisher! 119hrs 57mins is a huge achievement, and I wish him all the best as the new world record holder! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 https://t.co/Ph2x4TqqNg
— Hilda Baci (@hildabacicooks) November 7, 2023
Baci’s acknowledgment reflects the spirit of camaraderie that often characterizes the global cooking community.
The details of Fisher’s marathon, including the start and end dates, remain unspecified by GWR, but what’s clear is the scale of his achievement.
Not only has Fisher claimed the title for the longest cooking marathon, but he has also shattered the record for the longest baking marathon by an individual with a time of 47 hours and 21 minutes, besting the previous record held by Wendy Sandner of the United States.
GWR lauded Fisher’s remarkable endurance, stating, “What’s even more impressive is that Alan took on both attempts back to back, meaning he was at work in the kitchen for over 160 hours with just over a day of rest in between.”
This latest development in the competitive world of culinary records is a testament to the determination and stamina that chefs around the globe are willing to invest in pursuit of gastronomic glory.
While Baci’s reign as the longest cooking marathon holder may have ended, the legacy of her cooking prowess and the spotlight on Nigerian cuisine continue to simmer on.
