Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has shed light on why she reduced her target from 250 bags of rice to 200 in her ambitious quest to serve the largest Nigerian-style jollof rice.
Baci, who captured global attention in 2023 after her record-breaking cook-a-thon, launched her latest culinary challenge at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, on Friday. The event drew massive crowds, with food lovers, dignitaries, and celebrities—including Nollywood star Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun—adding glamour to the carnival-like atmosphere.
Explaining the adjustment, Baci revealed that her decision was purely technical. She said the measuring crane and scale used to weigh the final dish had a capacity limit of 20,000 kilogrammes, including the weight of the custom-made pot.
“The goal was to hit between 17,000 and 18,000 kilogrammes, but the pot alone weighs significantly. Since the crane cannot exceed 20,000 kilogrammes, I had to scale down slightly for safety. That’s why I reduced the rice by about 1,000 kilogrammes,” she explained.
Despite the cutback, the chef confirmed that the 200 bags cooked produced 4,000 kilogrammes of jollof rice, enough to feed an estimated 20,000 people.
“This 4,000 kilogrammes of rice will still serve 20,000 people, so we’re still right on track,” Baci said with pride.
The culinary icon described the feat as the most ambitious of her career, noting that it took nearly a year of planning. According to her, two months went into fabricating the giant pots, while nine months were dedicated to planning the event. The cooking itself lasted nearly nine hours.
“Honestly, it’s been hectic but rewarding. We still need to ensure everyone here gets fed, but so far, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved,” she said.
Interestingly, Baci revealed that the project was not initially intended as a Guinness World Record attempt, but as a unifying food experience for Nigerians.
“When I conceived the idea, it wasn’t about records. It was about bringing people together and feeding as many as possible. We’re feeding the nation,” she declared, as excited fans queued to be served.
Guinness World Records also joined the buzz, sharing a video of the event on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption:
“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 Baci’s 2023 cook-a-thon, a feat that not only won her international acclaim but also inspired a wave of young Nigerians to consider careers in the culinary industry.
