Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci, a Guinness World Record holder, recently shared her reasons for cooking 200 bags of rice instead of the originally planned 250 in her quest to set a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof rice. Baci, who gained fame in 2023 after her record-breaking cook-a-thon, started her latest culinary challenge at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, attracting a crowd of food enthusiasts, celebrities, and prominent figures.
The event, which kicked off Friday morning, quickly transformed into a vibrant celebration complete with music, dance, and appearances from well-known personalities like Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Ogun State's First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun. In an interview at the venue, Baci clarified that her decision to reduce the rice quantity was based on technical constraints.
She explained that the crane and scale designed for weighing the final dish had a maximum limit of 20,000 kilograms, which included the weight of the custom pot. "When we began, we weighed the pot and had to account for everything that went into it after we were done. I aimed for about 17,000 to 18,000 kilograms after cooking 5,000 kilograms. Adding the pot’s weight brings us to around 20,000. Since the average crane and measuring device can only handle that much, it was safer to stay below that limit, which is why I reduced the amount by just a thousand kilograms," she noted.
According to Baci, the 200 bags cooked equated to 4,000 kilograms of rice, sufficient to serve around 20,000 people. "This 4,000 kilograms is still enough to feed 20,000 folks, so we’re on track," she expressed. Baci described this endeavor as one of the most ambitious of her career, highlighting that it took nearly a year of meticulous planning to bring it to fruition.
"Honestly, Gino and I had a hectic time figuring everything out, especially the pot fabrication, which took Mr. Ayo two months. From ideation to execution, it took us about nine months to plan this event and nearly nine hours to prepare the entire meal," she revealed.
Despite the challenges, she found the experience rewarding. "It was tough but thrilling at the same time. We still have work to do, distributing the food to ensure everyone who came leaves satisfied. So, we’re still on it, but I’m really pleased with our progress today," Baci shared.
Interestingly, she mentioned that the project wasn’t originally intended as a Guinness World Record attempt but rather a unique food experience for Nigerians. "When I came up with this idea, I honestly didn’t think about it as a world record. I wanted to create an opportunity to unite people and feed as many as possible," she admitted.
"Just look around; there are so many of you here! Some even brought coolers, so we need to make sure everyone is fed. We’re feeding the nation," she added. The excitement didn’t go unnoticed, as Guinness World Record, the London-based record authority, joined in the enthusiasm online, offering words of encouragement along with a video of the event on X (formerly Twitter). They wrote, "What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice today." This recognition came just two years after Guinness validated Baci’s 2023 cook-a-thon, which not only earned her global recognition but also inspired many young Nigerians to venture into the culinary world.