Nigerian Chef Sets Record for Longest Cooking Shift

Hilda Baci is a chef¹ in Lagos, Nigeria. She recently stayed in the kitchen for 100 hours and only took short breaks each hour. She started cooking on May 11 and did not stop until May 15.

Baci's goal was to break the Guinness World Record for longest cooking time. An Indian chef set the current² record of 87 hours, 45 minutes in 2019.

Baci made classic³ Nigerian food like soups, stew⁴ and meats. She even made Jollof rice, one of the most famous West African meals.

Baci finished her cooking on the night of May 15. Thousands of people were there when she put down her cooking tools at 7:45 at night.

Guinness published a tweet about Baci's effort. It said it knew about her record-breaking attempt but noted⁵ that it would need to do a review before "officially confirming⁶ a record."

Baci said she wanted to break the cooking record to show the world how determined⁷ Nigerian people are. She also said she wanted to make people understand that there are not enough work opportunities for Nigerian women.

She said women "have to go an extra mile to be taken seriously."

Baci added⁸ that she wanted to teach the world a little bit about Nigerian food.

Thousands of people came past the kitchen to cheer for Baci as she cooked for four days. Many more people watched an online video showing her work.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari used Twitter to say good words about the chef. He praised her "drive, ambition and resilience."

Kingsley Ofoma was there as Baci got close to the 100-hour mark. He got to eat some of her food for free. But he said that was not even the best part of the experience.

"The energy here is very high and positive," he said. "Everybody is having fun."

Words in This Story

chef –n. a trained person who runs a kitchen and makes food for others

classic –adj. something traditional and respected that a person or place is known⁹ for

record –n. an official mark that is recognized as the best or fastest in an event

opportunity –n. the chance to do something

determined –adj. willing¹⁰ to do hard work and overcome problems

extra mile –expression. doing more than is expected of the average person

drive –n. energy to get something accomplished¹¹

ambition –n. something a person hopes to do or achieve

resilience –n. the ability to come back from disappointment or trouble

1 chef   

n.炊事员，厨师

参考例句：

• He started work as a trainee chef.他开始了见习厨师的工作。
• No one can become a chef without practical experience.没有实际工作经验，谁也当不了厨师长。

2 current   

n.涌流，趋势，电流，水流，气流；adj.当前的，通用的，流通的，现在的，草写的，最近的

参考例句：

• Electric current is often powerful enough to kill a man.电流常强得足以致命。
• There is a story about her in the current number.最近一期上有关于她的故事。

3 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

4 stew   

n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑

参考例句：

• The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
• There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 confirming   

v.批准( confirm的现在分词 )；证实；使有效；使巩固

参考例句：

• My company has complied with committee subpoenas by supplying documents confirming all that I have said. 本公司按照委员会的要求，提供了能够证实我刚才发言的文件。 来自辞典例句
• It fostered the deception that learning consisted in deepening and confirming the accepted body of knowledge. 它给人们的一个错觉，似乎学习仅仅是为了加深和巩固已有的知识。 来自辞典例句

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 added   

adj.更多的，附加的，额外的

参考例句：

• They have added a new scene at the beginning.在开头他们又增加了一场戏。
• The pop music added to our enjoyment of the film.片中的流行音乐使我们对这部电影更加喜爱。

9 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

10 willing   

adj.愿意的，自愿的，乐意的，心甘情愿的

参考例句：

• We never lack food and clothing if we're willing to work.如果我们愿意工作,就不会缺吃少穿。
• He's quite willing to pay the price I ask.他很愿意照我的要价付钱。

11 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。