Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has revealed why she scaled down her original plan of cooking 250 bags of rice to 200 bags in her latest bid to set a new world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
The event, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, attracted a large crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries, including Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun. The atmosphere resembled a carnival with music, dancing, and jubilant celebrations.
Speaking to reporters, Baci explained that the decision to reduce the rice quantity was due to technical limitations relating to the measuring equipment.
“The measuring crane and scale designed to weigh the final dish had a maximum capacity of 20,000 kilogrammes, including the weight of the custom-made pot,” she said.
“When we started, we weighed the pot, and we need to weigh every single ingredient going into the pot when we finish. The goal was to hit about 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes of rice. Including the pot, the total weight approaches 20,000 kilogrammes.
READ ALSO: Hilda Baci to cook 250 bags of rice in jollof pot feat
“The scale can only hold up to 20,000 kilogrammes, so it was safer for me to reduce the quantity slightly to ensure the scale could accommodate everything.”
Despite the reduction, Baci noted that 200 bags of rice still equated to 4,000 kilogrammes — enough to feed around 20,000 people.
“This 4,000 kilogrammes of rice is 200 bags, and it will still feed 20,000 people. So, we’re still up there,” she affirmed.
Describing the endeavour as the most ambitious of her career, Baci revealed the meticulous planning that went into the event.
“Figuring this whole thing out was hectic. It took Mr Ayo two months to design and fabricate the pots. The entire planning took about nine months, and it took nearly nine hours to cook the entire meal,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Baci described the experience as rewarding.
“It was challenging but very exciting at the same time. We’re not done yet because we need to distribute the food and ensure everyone who came is fed to their satisfaction,” she added.
Interestingly, Baci shared that the event was not initially intended as a Guinness World Record attempt but rather as a food experience to bring Nigerians together.
“When I came up with this idea, I did not think about it as a world record, quite frankly. It was about creating an opportunity to feed as many people as possible and unite everyone,” she said.
The event gained international recognition, with Guinness World Records posting a message of encouragement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice today.”
This latest record attempt follows Baci’s 2023 “Cookathon,” a 93-hour marathon cooking session that earned her global fame and inspired many young Nigerians to explore the culinary arts.
