Hilda Baci is a name that has been making waves in the culinary world, especially after she broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon in May 2023. But who is Hilda Baci, and what is her story? In this blog post, we will explore the biography of this talented and inspiring chef, from her early life and education to her career and achievements.
Early life and Education
Hilda Effiong Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, was born on September 20, 1996, in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She is from the Ibibio tribe and has three siblings: Gilbert, Flavio, and a younger brother. Her mother, Lynda Ndukwe, is the CEO of Calabar Pot, one of the best restaurants in Abuja, while her father, Effiong Bassey Edem, is a businessman.
Hilda grew up in Calabar and Abuja, where she developed a passion for cooking from a young age. She learned a lot from her mother, who was a street food vendor before becoming a successful restaurateur. Hilda also had a flair for creativity and entertainment, as she participated in school dramas and musicals.
Hilda attended Madonna University in Okija, Anambra State, where she graduated with a degree in Sociology in 2018. She also took online courses on culinary arts and hospitality management to hone her skills and knowledge.
Career and Achievements
After graduating from university, Hilda decided to pursue her dream of becoming a professional chef. She started her own YouTube channel, MyFoodbyHilda, where she uploaded food recipes and lifestyle content. She also hosted a TV show called Dine on a Budget, which aired on Pop Central TV. The show featured Hilda cooking delicious meals with affordable ingredients and giving tips on how to save money on food.
Hilda also opened her own restaurant, MyFoodbyHilda, in Lagos, where she served a variety of dishes, from Nigerian delicacies to continental cuisines. She gained a loyal customer base and a positive reputation for her quality service and mouth-watering food.
Hilda’s popularity soared in 2021, when she won the Jollof Faceoff competition, an event that celebrated the love Nigeria and Ghana have for Jollof Rice. Hilda impressed the judges and the audience with her unique and tasty version of the dish, which she called Hilda’s Jollof.
In 2023, Hilda made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. She cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 87 hours and 45 minutes held by Lata Tondon of India. Hilda’s record attempt, titled Cook-a-thon, was held at the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos, and was witnessed by thousands of people, including celebrities, politicians, and media personalities.
Hilda cooked over 500 dishes during the Cook-a-thon, ranging from local to international cuisines. She also donated some of the food to orphanages and charities. She received a certificate from Guinness World Records and a cash prize of N10 million from the sponsors of the event.
Hilda’s record was later broken by Alan Fisher, an Irish chef, who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes in November 2023. However, Hilda remains the first African and the first woman to achieve such a feat.
Hilda has also appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as Dreamchaser, A Walk on Water, and Mr & Mrs Robert. She is also a brand ambassador for several products and services, such as Maggi, Knorr, Indomie, and Uber Eats.
Personal Life
Hilda is not married and has no children. She is currently focused on her career and her personal growth. She is a devout Christian and a philanthropist. She supports various causes, such as education, health, and women empowerment. She also mentors young aspiring chefs and entrepreneurs.
Hilda is active on social media, where she has millions of followers. She shares her recipes, photos, videos, and updates on her Instagram account, @hildabaci. She also has a website, www.myfoodbyhilda.com, where she blogs about her culinary adventures and offers catering services.
Hilda Baci Siblings
Hilda Baci has three siblings: Gilbert, Flavio, and a younger brother Gilbert is a pop artist, filmmaker, and writer, while Flavio is an Instagram influencer. Hilda is 22 years older than her triplet siblings, who were born when her mother was in her 20s. Hilda often shows her love and affection for her family on social media.
What Is Hilda's Favorite Food?
Hilda’s favorite food is not explicitly stated in the web search results, but based on the list of recipes she has shared on her Instagram page and her YouTube channel, it seems that she enjoys cooking and eating different types of rice and pasta dishes, especially jollof. She also likes akara, a popular street food made from deep-fried mashed beans. Hilda has a passion for Nigerian cuisine, as well as exploring other cultures’ food.
What Are Some Of Hilda's Signature Dishes?
Some of Hilda’s signature dishes are:
Hilda’s Jollof: A unique and tasty version of the popular West African rice dish, which she won the Jollof Faceoff competition with.
Seafood Okro: A rich and spicy soup made with okra, assorted seafood, palm oil, and seasonings.
Creamy Jollof Pasta: A fusion of Nigerian and Italian cuisines, featuring pasta cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with chicken and vegetables.
Crispy Butterfly Prawns: A crunchy and delicious appetizer, made with prawns coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried.
Edikaikong: A nutritious and flavorful soup, made with assorted meats, pumpkin leaves, water leaves, and palm oil.
Did Hilda Baci Win Any Awards?
Yes, Hilda Baci won several awards for her culinary achievements. Some of them are:
She won the Jollof Faceoff competition in 2021, pocketing a grand prize of $5000.
She broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual in 2023, with a time of 93 hours and 11 minutes. She received a certificate and a cash prize of N10 million from the sponsors of the event.
She was featured in several Nigerian magazines and newspapers, such as The Guardian, The Nation, and Vanguard .
She was nominated for the Best Chef category at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards in 2023.
Hilda Baci Net Worth
Hilda Baci’s net worth is estimated to be between $250,000 and $500,000. She makes money mainly from her cooking career, her YouTube channel, her restaurant, and her brand endorsements. She also won cash prizes from the Jollof Faceoff competition and the Guinness World Record attempt.
What Other Ventures Did Hilda Baci Have?
Hilda Baci is not only a chef, but also a successful actress and a brand ambassador. She has appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as Dreamchaser, A Walk on Water, and Mr & Mrs Robert. She is also a brand ambassador for several products and services, such as Viva Detergent, Maggi, Knorr, Indomie, and Uber Eats.
She also supports various causes, such as education, health, and women empowerment, and mentors young aspiring chefs and entrepreneurs. Hilda Baci is a multi-talented and versatile woman, who has ventured into diverse fields and industries.
Hilda Baci Houses
Hilda Baci owns several houses in Nigeria, which she acquired from her successful cooking career and her brand endorsements. Some of the houses she has are:
A Coral Bay Estate house in Ketu Epe, Lagos, which she received as a gift from Empire Homes Realty Ltd, a leading real estate investment firm, for breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.
An Arizon Estate house in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, which she bought from Zylus Homes, a reputable property development company, as shown in a YouTube video.
A fully automated house in Abuja, which she showed off in a viral TikTok video, stating that the kitchen is her favorite spot in the house.
Hilda Baci has a lavish lifestyle and a taste for luxury, as evident from her stunning houses. She is also generous and charitable, as she often donates some of her houses to orphanages and NGOs.
Hilda Baci Cars
Hilda Baci is a successful chef and entrepreneur who loves luxury cars. She has been spotted driving several high-end vehicles, such as:
A Mercedes-Benz G wagon, a powerful and elegant SUV.
A Range Rover, a stylish and versatile SUV that can handle both city and off-road driving.
Hilda’s cars reflect her status and taste, as well as her hard work and dedication to her craft.
Controversy And Activism Of Hilda Baci
Hilda Baci is a famous Nigerian chef who has been involved in some controversies and activism in her career. Some of them are:
Animal rights controversy: In June 2023, Hilda Baci was slammed by animal rights activist Jackie Idimogu for eating dog meat during her visit to Akwa Ibom State. Idimogu accused Baci of cruelty towards animals and disrespecting the members of the My Dog & I group, who supported her during her cookathon. The incident sparked a heated debate on social media about animal rights and cultural practices in Nigeria.
Jollof war with Ghanaians: In July 2023, Hilda Baci triggered another Jollof war with Ghanaians, when she posted a video on her Instagram account, claiming that Nigerian Jollof is superior to Ghanaian Jollof. She also challenged any Ghanaian chef to a Jollof cook-off, saying that she would beat them with her signature Hilda’s Jollof. The video went viral and provoked angry reactions from Ghanaians, who defended their version of the dish and accused Baci of being arrogant and ignorant.
Lawsuit threat from Viva Detergent: In June 2023, Hilda Baci faced a lawsuit threat from Viva Detergent, a brand that she had endorsed in the past. The brand publicly accused the chef of breaching a ₦3 million contract, by failing to attend an event that they had sponsored and promoting a rival product. However, Baci denied the allegations and provided proof of her innocence, showing that she had fulfilled her obligations and that the rival product was a gift from a fan.
Education and health activism: Hilda Baci is also an activist for education and health causes in Nigeria. She has donated books, laptops, and scholarships to several schools and students across the country. She has also supported campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness and funds for health issues, such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and cancer. She has partnered with organizations, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), to deliver humanitarian aid and services to vulnerable communities.
Conclusion
Hilda Baci is a remarkable chef, who has achieved a lot in a short span of time. She is a role model for many young Nigerians, who admire her passion, creativity, and resilience. She is also a source of pride for her country, as she has put Nigeria on the global map with her culinary skills and record-breaking feat. Hilda Baci is a star in the making, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
