Liberian-Australian chef sets new world record

Liberian-Australian chef and restaurateur, Evette Quoibia, has etched her name into the history books after breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual — clocking an astonishing 140 hours, 11 minutes, and 11 seconds of non-stop culinary activity.

Evette, who now resides in Melbourne, Australia, and runs her own restaurant, achieved the feat through sheer determination and a lifelong love for cooking that began when she was just eight years old. While other children played with dolls and toys, Evette was at home in the kitchen, mixing ingredients and preparing meals alongside her family.

Born in war-torn Liberia during the civil war, her family journeyed across several countries before finally settling in Australia — a path that would eventually shape both her identity and culinary palette. Her historic attempt was not just about endurance, but about telling a story through food, particularly inspired by Liberian and West African cuisines.

“I’ve always loved cooking,” she said. “With my experience in the kitchen and running a restaurant, I knew this was something I could do.”

Evette’s record-breaking cook-a-thon surpassed the previous record held by Irish chef Alan Fisher. In the lead-up to the marathon, she spent two months in rigorous preparation. With help from an event planner, her local church, volunteers, and a GoFundMe campaign, she gathered all she needed — from ingredients like semolina flour, cassava, tomatoes, and pounded yam, to mental and spiritual support.

Throughout the attempt, Evette prepared hundreds of dishes, including West African staples like jollof rice, cassava leaf stew, pepper soup, and okra soup. She also incorporated flavors from Nigerian, Asian, and Australian cuisines to cater to a diverse community and showcase her versatility.

The most grueling challenge, however, wasn’t the cooking itself — it was the lack of rest. According to Guinness World Records guidelines, Evette was allowed only a 20-minute break every four hours. Since her designated rest area was some distance away, she barely had 10 minutes to decompress before returning to the kitchen.

“There were times I almost overslept,” she revealed. “But my team was amazing — they encouraged me, kept me alert, and kept the energy high.”

By the fourth day, the mental toll of sleep deprivation set in. Her mind slowed, her focus waned, and she struggled to process tasks. Still, she pushed through. It wasn’t until a member of her church reminded her she had officially broken the record that the moment of triumph hit her.

“I didn’t even realize I had done it,” she said, recalling the surreal moment of joy, music, dancing, and celebration that followed.

After the whirlwind event, Evette took a well-deserved three-day rest to recover. Reflecting on her journey, she had a message for dreamers and go-getters everywhere.

“Many people don’t realize what they’re capable of until they step out and try,” she said. “I want women, single moms, and young people to know there is always hope. If you have a big dream, go for it. You never know how far you can go.”