Hilda Baci completed her attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice on Saturday.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Effiong Bassey better known as Hilda Baci, has explained why she opted to cook 200 bags of rice instead of the 250 bags initially planned in her quest to set a new world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the celebrity chef completed her attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice on Saturday.
Before the cooking began, Baci rolled up her sleeves to wash the massive red pot and assured fans that the process would be handled with care.
“Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean. I washed it myself,” she said.
Moments before lighting the burners, she prayed with the Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Bolaji Idowu, who asked for strength and success on her behalf.
As the cooking continued through Friday night into the early hours of Saturday, the crowd clapped, sang and danced while waiting to taste the record-breaking meal.
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Among the personalities presented were fashion designer Veekee James, content creators Tomike Adeoye and Enioluwa Adeoluwa, and Nollywood actress and movie maker, Funke Akindele, who excited the audience with lively dance moves.
Musician Oludipe David, popularly known as Spyro, also performed some of his hit songs to entertain the guests.
However, speaking at the event in Eko Hotels, Lagos, Baci revealed that she cut the number of bags for technical and safety reasons connected to the weighing process.
“When we began, we had to weigh the pot and every single ingredient that would go in. The standard crane and scale available can only carry 20,000 kilograms. It is safer to go below 20,000 kilogrammes so that my scale can carry it all at the same time” she explained.
According to her, the custom-built pot and its contents risked exceeding the 20,000-kilogram limit of the crane and scale designed to measure the final dish.
Despite reducing the original plan, the chef stressed that the feat remains monumental. “Even at 200 bags, we are still making history. This is 4,000kg of rice, and it will feed 20,000 people comfortably. So we’re still up there” she assured.
In a show of support, the Guinness World Records team in London sent her a message on social media wishing her success in the ambitious challenge.
