Nigerian celebrity chef and restaurateur, Hilda Baci, has taken another bold step in her culinary journey as she conducted a trial run with her massive 6-by-6-meter cooking pot. The test run is part of her preparation for the Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice.
The news of the test run surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after Hilda had earlier revealed on her Instagram and TikTok pages that she would officially begin the record-breaking attempt on September 12 in Lagos. According to her, this project is not only about breaking records but also about showcasing Nigerian cuisine to the world on an unprecedented scale.
In her post, the popular chef expressed her desire to bring her vision of cooking the largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice to reality. She noted that the project has been a dream of hers, and she is ready to take on the challenge with the support of her team and well-wishers across the country.
Just a few hours after her announcement, Hilda Baci and her team set up the giant pot and carried out a proper trial session. She cooked jollof rice in the enormous pot, testing the equipment, cooking tools, and logistics ahead of the official record-breaking event. The trial also helped her team identify possible challenges and fine-tune their process before the September 12 kickoff.
A circulating video clip captured the moment Hilda supervised the cooking process, surrounded by her team and several onlookers who came to witness the historic preparation. The clip quickly went viral across social media platforms, attracting widespread attention and sparking conversations among Nigerians online.
While many people praised her courage and ambition, others raised concerns about hygiene and food safety during the test run. Some critics highlighted the number of individuals standing close to the open food without protective gear like nose masks, aprons, or hairnets, describing the scene as unhygienic. Nonetheless, supporters argued that the trial run was only a preliminary step and that tighter health standards would likely be in place during the main record attempt.
See some reactions from Nigerians below:
@MavinoFriday: “All the dust from the road. All the siliva and sweat from their mouths and bodies. All the dirt flying around. This is just a big reservoir of unhealthy food. But of course, Nigerians are hungry so they will all come out in their numbers to eat free food.”
@benjamins_st: “They shouldn’t let people who are not working close to the food..see as them wan use saliva garnish the food join.”
@personpapa14: “How una want take serve all this food finish without say person nor jump enta this pot Abi na big basin 🤔😂 I just Taya for all of una.”
@tetrapeterweb3: “This is so unhygienic. See how many people without hair covering or nose masks close to the food.”
@defigner_: “Some guys standing there are just waiting for the rice to be done so they can get a free plate. Hilda feeding the world.”
@Blaqdkidd: “Na spit go full that rice cause wtf?😂 Shouldn’t they be wearing nose masks as well to make it healthy to eat?”
Despite the mixed reactions, many Nigerians still hailed Hilda’s courage, describing her attempt as inspirational and a true representation of the country’s rich food culture. All eyes are now on Lagos, as Hilda Baci prepares to officially begin her world record attempt on September 12, a date that may go down in culinary history.
WATCH VIDEO:
Hilda Baci cooks a test run of her world’s biggest jollof rice before September 12. https://t.co/fpg0nDLVq1 pic.twitter.com/0RlwMJrycp
— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) August 23, 2025