Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has explained why she prepared 200 bags of rice instead of the initially announced 250 during her latest attempt to set a world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
The event, held on Friday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, drew a lively crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries. Among those present were Nollywood star Funke Akindele, dance icon Kaffy, and Ogun State First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun.
Why the Change in Plan
Speaking to journalists, Baci revealed that technical limitations influenced her decision. The weighing crane and measuring device used at the event had a 20,000kg weight limit, forcing her to scale down her initial plan.
“The goal was to hit about 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes including the pot,” she explained. “But since the crane can only weigh 20,000 kilogrammes, I had to go slightly below that. That’s why I cut it down by a thousand kilogrammes.”
Despite cooking fewer bags, the chef confirmed that the 200 bags produced 4,000kg of jollof rice, enough to feed around 20,000 people.
Baci disclosed that the massive project took nearly a year of planning and about nine hours of nonstop cooking.
“Honestly, Gino and I figuring this whole thing out was hectic,” she said. “It took Mr. Ayo two months to fabricate the custom pot, then nine months to plan the event. Cooking the entire meal itself took nearly nine hours.”
She described the experience as stressful but rewarding. “We’re not done because we still have to distribute the food and make sure everybody here eats to their satisfaction. But so far, I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved today.”
More Than Just a Record Attempt
Interestingly, Baci admitted that the idea was not initially conceived as a Guinness World Record attempt.
“When I came up with this idea, I did not think about it as a world record,” she said. “It was about bringing people together and feeding as many as possible. Some of you even came with your coolers. We’re feeding the nation.”
Guinness World Records, based in London, acknowledged the effort by sharing a video from the event on its official 𝕏 handle.
“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 post read.
The challenge comes two years after Baci’s famous 2023 cook-a-thon, which earned her worldwide recognition and inspired many young Nigerians to explore careers in the culinary industry.
