Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci has explained why she opted to cook 200 bags of rice instead of the initially planned 250 in her latest bid to set a new world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
Baci, who shot to fame in 2023 after her record-breaking cook-a-thon, began the challenge on Friday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, attracting a large crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries.
The event took on a carnival-like atmosphere, featuring music, dance, and appearances by Nollywood star Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and the First Lady of Ogun State, Bamidele Abiodun.
Speaking to journalists, Baci explained that her decision to reduce the quantity of rice was due to technical limitations.
“If you notice, when we started, we weighed the pot. By the time we finished, we had to weigh every single thing that went into it. The average crane and measuring device can only carry 20,000 kilogrammes, including the weight of the pot. To be safe, I had to cut it down slightly,” she said.
She revealed that the 200 bags cooked still amounted to 4,000 kilogrammes of rice, enough to feed 20,000 people.
“This is 4,000 kilogrammes of rice, and it will still feed 20,000 people. So, we’re still up there,” she added.
Baci described the feat as the most ambitious of her career, saying it took almost a year of preparation.
“Honestly, planning this was hectic. It took Mr. Ayo two months to fabricate the custom-made pots, and the entire event took about nine months to plan. Cooking the meal alone lasted almost nine hours,” she revealed.
Despite the stress, she said the process was fulfilling.
“It was challenging but very exciting. We’re not done yet, because we still need to distribute the food to ensure everyone here eats to their satisfaction,” she said.
Interestingly, Baci disclosed that the project was not initially conceived as a Guinness World Record attempt but rather a food experience to bring people together.
“When I came up with the idea, I wasn’t thinking about a world record. I just wanted to feed as many people as possible,” she explained.
Guinness World Records, through its official handle on X (formerly Twitter), joined the excitement, posting a video of the event with the message: “What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice today.”
The recognition comes just two years after Guinness certified her 2023 cook-a-thon, which earned her global fame and inspired many young Nigerians to pursue careers in the culinary industry.
