Why I embarked and broke Guinness World Records

She is the current Guinness World Records breaker in Home Cooking category, Chef Grace Nwaokobia in this interview with ADA DIKE, among other riveting issues said her aim for the project was primarily to assist the less privileged.

One of the best chefs in Nigeria, Grace Ugochi Yolanda Nwaokobia broke Guinness World Records recently.

She took on the longest home kitchen cooking marathon from June 14 to 18, 2024, and clocked off at exactly 87 hours, 40 minutes, thereby breaking the record that has not been broken in the past six years.

The previous World Records holder, an American, spent 68 hours 30 minutes.

The exercise which took place in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria was sponsored by Kalospice, Compass Realty and others.

Nwaokobia described her category as “The Home Kitchen Category,” which was different from Hilda Baci’s own.

Her aim of doing it was primarily to motivate all the home cooks struggling in their businesses, the homeless on the streets, and she pledged to give back to some orphanage homes.

“This vision doesn’t end with the world record alone,” she stated emphatically.

Nwaokobia promised to give six struggling home cooks appliances and food items to people on the streets. She shared the meals she cooked to people that witnessed the cooking and individuals on the streets.

How do you feel emerging as the Guinness World Records breaker? She was asked. Elated Grace expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for her to accomplish the task.

According to her, she didn’t face much challenges, except leg pains due to standing for hours, and when she felt really sleepy while cooking.

Despite the challenges, she was resilient to ensure that her project was accomplished successfully.

“I didn’t at any point feel like giving up while cooking. No, not at all. I was just really sleepy so, I felt tired physically at some point, but mentally, I didn’t think of giving up.”

Prior to the time she broke the record, she usually cooks both business and family foods. “But, at the Cook-A-Thon, I made over 50 meals ranging from Banga soup to native pasta, stir fry pasta, vegetable soup, maize with dry fish palm oil sauce, Jollof rice, yam with vegetable sauce, yam with egg sauce, beans porridge and so on,” she revealed.

She was asked: In the next five years, where do you see yourself, business-wise? “I strive to become an inspiration to the youth. I also like to touch many lives.”

Grace is from Delta State, but was born and brought up in Lagos.

The Chief Executive Officer of Gracie’s Gourmet Kitchen graduated from Redeemers University in 2015. Presently, she is studying for a Masters in Public and International Affairs.

If she was not a chef, Nwaokobia mentioned interior design and real estate as other professions she would have gone into.

Presently, Grace is not into any relationship. She divulged the qualities of a man she will like to spend her life with by saying that: “I want a God-fearing man from a good home. He must be educated, selfless and ambitious.”

She looks up to chefs who are thriving and exceling in the culinary industry as her mentors.

Her official email is: chefgracesgwrcookathon@gmail.com.

As for her hobbies, she likes watching movies and reality shows or brunch with friends.