WHY I COOKED 200 BAGS OF RICE INSTEAD OF 250 — HILDA BACI
Read Time:3 Minute, 9 Second
By: Sefiu Ajape
Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has given reasons why she decided to prepare 200 bags of rice instead of the earlier plan of 250 in her quest to set a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof rice.
Baci, who gained national prominence in 2023 after her record-breaking cook-a-thon, began her latest culinary challenge at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, attracting food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries.
The event, which kicked off on Friday morning, has taken on a carnival-like atmosphere, featuring music, dancing, and appearances by Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Ogun State First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun.
Speaking to journalists, Baci explained that the decision to reduce the quantity was based on technical limitations.
She said, “If you notice when we started we weighed the pot and we need to weigh every single thing that goes into the pot when we’re done.
“The goal was that by the time I was done making 5,000 kilogrammes I was hoping to achieve about 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes. Right now, if I include the weight of the pot, that’s about 20,000.
“The average crane and the measuring device can only weigh 20,000 kilogrammes.
“It’s safer for me to go below 20,000 kilogrammes so that my scale can carry it all at the same time and basically that is why I had to cut down on the quantity and I only cut it down by a thousand kilogrammes.”
According to her, the 200 bags cooked still translated to 4,000 kilogrammes of rice, enough to serve 20,000 people.
“This 4,000 kilogrammes of rice is 200 bags of rice and it will still feed 20,000 people so we’re still up there,” Hilda added.
Describing the project as the most ambitious of her career, she revealed that it took close to a year of preparation.
“Honestly, Gino and I figuring this whole thing out was hectic. Figuring out how to fabricate the pots, it took Mr. Ayo two months to figure out and fabricate the pots.
“Then it took us about nine months to plan this event and it took us almost nine hours to make the entire meal,” she revealed.
Despite the stress, she described the process as rewarding.
“It was challenging but very exciting at the same time.
“We’re not done because we need to distribute the food and make sure that everybody that has come here eats to their satisfaction.
“So we’re still on it but so far I’m very happy, you know, with where we are and what we’ve been able to achieve today.”
Interestingly, Baci disclosed that the initiative was not initially meant as a Guinness World Record attempt but more about creating a memorable food experience.
“When I came up with this idea, I did not think about it as a world record, quite frankly,” she admitted.
Instead, she said it was about feeding people and bringing them together.
“I mean, have you looked around? There’s a lot of you. Some of you came with your cooler, so we need to make sure everybody’s fed.
“We’re feeding the nation,” she said.
The Guinness World Records organisation itself joined the buzz online, sharing a video of the event on X (formerly Twitter) with a message of encouragement.
It 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.”
The recognition comes just two years after the body officially certified her 2023 cook-a-thon, which shot her into international limelight and inspired many young Nigerians to pursue culinary careers.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0