Liberian-Australian chef breaks Guinness World Record after cooking non-stop for 140 hours
A Liberian-Australian chef, Evette Quoibia, has made history by cooking non-stop for over 140 hours, breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
Evette, who now owns a restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, said her passion for cooking began when she was just eight years old.
While other children played with toys, she played with pots and cups in the kitchen, helping her family prepare meals.
That early passion has now turned into a remarkable achievement. Evette spent 140 hours, 11 minutes, and 11 seconds cooking a variety of dishes, mostly inspired by Liberian and West African cuisine, to break the previous record held by Alan Fisher from Ireland.
Born during the Liberian civil war, Evette and her family moved between countries before finally settling in Australia.
She always dreamed of doing something big and said the idea of breaking a Guinness World Record gave her a chance to prove what she could do.
“This was something within my skills,” Evette said. “I’ve always loved cooking, and with my restaurant experience, I felt I could take on the challenge.”
Before her attempt, she spent two months preparing. She worked with an event planner, volunteers, her church, and even raised money through GoFundMe to buy ingredients.
She bought large quantities of semolina flour, pounded yam, cassava, tomatoes, and rice — key ingredients in Liberian dishes.
Evette cooked jollof rice, cassava leaves, pepper soup, okra soup, and other traditional meals, while also mixing in dishes with flavors from Nigeria, Asia, and Australia to appeal to everyone in the community.
The hardest part came after several days without proper sleep. Evette was only allowed 20-minute breaks every four hours, and since her rest area was a bit far, she barely had 10 minutes to actually relax. She tried taking short naps but found they made her feel even more tired.
“There were times I almost overslept,” she admitted. “But my team really helped me stay awake and stay strong.”
By the fourth and fifth days, exhaustion began to set in. She felt mentally weak, slow, and had trouble processing things, but the support from her team and the crowd kept her going.
Finally, someone from her church reminded her that she had reached the record-breaking time.
“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.”
After the record was confirmed, Evette celebrated with music, dancing, and more food. Then she took a well-earned three-day nap.
Reflecting on her journey, she 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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