A Liberian-Australian chef, Evette Quoibia, has etched her name in history by achieving an extraordinary feat of cooking non-stop for over 140 hours, securing the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon ever completed by an individual.
Evette, now the proud owner of a restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, revealed that her passion for cooking began when she was just eight years old. While other children were playing with toys, she could be found playing with pots and cups, helping her family prepare meals in the kitchen, a passion that has stayed with her throughout her life.
Her childhood fascination with cooking laid the foundation for her impressive achievement, as she spent 140 hours, 11 minutes, and 11 seconds preparing a wide array of dishes, many inspired by her native Liberian and West African cuisine, which helped her surpass the previous record set by Alan Fisher of Ireland.
Born during the tumultuous Liberian civil war, Evette and her family experienced a life of displacement, moving from country to country before finally settling in Australia. Despite the challenges, Evette always dreamed of accomplishing something monumental, and when the opportunity to break a Guinness World Record presented itself, she knew this was her moment to prove her capabilities.
“This was something within my skills,” Evette reflected. “I’ve always loved cooking, and with my restaurant experience, I felt confident I could take on the challenge.”
To prepare for her record attempt, Evette spent two months meticulously planning and organizing. She enlisted the help of an event planner, volunteers, and even raised funds via GoFundMe to purchase the necessary ingredients. Large quantities of semolina flour, pounded yam, cassava, tomatoes, and rice—core ingredients in Liberian cuisine—were procured for the marathon cooking session.
During the marathon, Evette cooked an assortment of dishes, including jollof rice, cassava leaves, pepper soup, okra soup, and many more traditional meals. She also incorporated dishes from Nigeria, Asia, and Australia to ensure a variety that would appeal to the diverse community present. The hardest part, however, was the sleep deprivation. Evette was allowed only 20-minute breaks every four hours, but her rest area was far from her cooking station, leaving her with barely 10 minutes to relax. Short naps were attempted but proved ineffective, leaving her feeling even more fatigued.
“There were times I almost overslept,” she confessed. “But my team really helped me stay awake and stay strong.”
As the hours passed, Evette’s determination only grew. It wasn’t until someone from her church reminded her that she had reached the record-breaking time that she realized the moment had arrived.
“I didn’t even realize,” she said. “I was just focused on cooking until they made an announcement. That moment was full of joy and celebration.”
Once her record was officially confirmed, Evette celebrated with music, dancing, and, of course, more food. Exhausted but triumphant, she then allowed herself a well-deserved three-day nap to recover from the intense experience.
Reflecting on her journey, Evette said, “Many people don’t know what they are capable of until they try. I want women, single moms, and young people to know there’s always hope. If you have a big dream, go for it.”
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