The sociology graduate from Madonna University, Okija, has since her emergence on the scene continued to prove her worth to the world.
Hence The PUNCH has decided she is worthy of being referred to as ‘Idan’, a slang which is a synonym for a person who achieves a difficult feat or a person who possesses the power of discernment.
Her journey to owning the ‘Idan’ title
As earlier stated in a previous article, the term Idan also celebrates individuals who prioritise logical and rational thinking in decision-making processes.
Before her recent feat as a Guinness World Record holder, Hilda earned Nigeria its first national food bragging rights when she won the Jollof competition in 2021. Chef Hilda represented Nigeria against Chef Seyram Leslie Kumordzie of Ghana and emerged winner, taking home a whopping $5,000.
Speaking during an interview following her first major win, the Akwa-Ibom-born chef, acknowledged the power of discernment (Idan) playing a huge role in her prowess and win.
According to Hilda, ”I’ve never had formal cooking training. My work is powered by vibes and the Holy Spirit. But I’ll probably train one day, mainly because I teach people. I’ll probably reach a point where I want to learn more so I have more to offer my students.
On winning the jollof competition, Hilda added saying; ”I had a lot of sides, from stewed turkey to coleslaw to moi moi to a special green sauce. But I didn’t serve the moi moi because I realised it was a Nigerian thing. I didn’t want the blind judges to tell I was the Nigerian rep and let bias win.”
How Hilda Broke Guinness World Record For Longest Cooking
At 21, Hilda considered participating in the Guinness cook-a-thon but couldn’t due to finances. She soon came up with a plan to save enough for the competition. Five years later, working a full-time job at a fashion retail company, alongside acting, presenting cooking TV shows, and hosting a talent show — MTN Yello Star in 2020, Hilda was finally ready to participate in the Guinness World Record cook-a-thon challenge.
The cook-a-thon required that the Chef prepared 80 recipes, which could be repetitive, for four days and four nights. Hilda is aiming for a 96-hour mark to be completed by 4 pm, May 15, 2023.
On how she prepared for the cook-a-thon before the competition started, Hilda noted that she spent the last week resting a lot. ”I’ll need all my strength to cook non-stop for four days. But last, I enjoy cooking, so I hope I’ll have fun with it.”
So far, the young chef has prepared 35 sides, soups, cold dishes, and sauces, mostly Nigerian cuisine, and has 92hrs of marathon cooking under her apron.
