Why I cooked 200 bags of rice instead of 250 — Hilda Baci

Hilda Baci Explains Why She Reduced Guinness World Record Jollof Rice Attempt

Celebrity chef Hilda Baci has shed light on why she scaled down her Guinness World Record attempt for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, cutting it from 250 bags to 200.

Speaking to journalists at the venue, Baci explained that the decision was guided by technical constraints. The crane and measuring scale available for the record attempt could only handle a maximum of 20,000 kilogrammes. Since the combined weight of the rice and the massive custom-made pot would have exceeded that limit, she opted for a safer adjustment.

“The goal was that by the time I was done making 5,000 kilogrammes, I was hoping to reach about 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes. But with the pot included, that’s already about 20,000. So, it’s safer to stay below that limit,” she said.

According to her, the 200 bags of rice—equivalent to 4,000 kilogrammes—were still more than enough to feed 20,000 people.

Baci described the attempt as her most ambitious project yet, noting that it took almost a year of preparation. Fabricating the custom pot alone, she revealed, took two months, while overall planning stretched over nine months. Cooking the massive meal itself lasted nearly nine hours.

She emphasized that the event was never just about setting records, but about bringing people together and feeding as many as possible.

“I mean, have you looked around? There’s a lot of you. Some came with coolers. We had to make sure everyone was fed. We’re feeding the nation,” she said.

The record-breaking event attracted a huge crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries, including Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Ogun State First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun.

Source Video: KK tv Uganda