Alan Fisher, an Irish chef who owns a restaurant in Japan, has surpassed Nigerian chef Hilda Baci to secure the Guinness World Records title for the longest cooking marathon.
Fisher set a new individual record for the longest cooking marathon, achieving an astounding time of 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing Baci’s previous record by over 24 hours.
He also broke the record for the longest baking marathon, clocking in at 47 hours and 21 minutes, surpassing Wendy Sandner’s (USA) previous record of 31 hours and 16 minutes.
What’s truly remarkable is that Alan Fisher undertook both challenges consecutively, spending over 160 hours in the kitchen with just over 160 hours of rest in between.
During the intense attempts, Fisher encountered various obstacles. His longest baking marathon effort led to physical strain on his back due to hand-mixing dough, resulting in discomfort and tightness.
As the longest cooking marathon neared its end, fatigue and drowsiness became significant hurdles for Fisher.
He recounted the strain, sharing how the repetitive task of peeling nearly 300 kg of potatoes initially offered a moment to rest but eventually induced drowsiness and a hallucination due to exhaustion.
Alan Fisher said: “I peeled roughly 300 kg of potatoes during the cooking marathon. For the first few days, I would look forward to this each evening as it gave me a chance to sit down.”
“Towards the end of the cooking marathon however, as fatigue started to take hold I would find it more and more difficult to stay awake whenever I sat down to start peeling.
“The rhythm of the peeling would almost hypnotize me. I had one hallucination on the second-to-last day. I turned to ask someone to pass me something, like I would on any normal day only to realize there was no one there.”
Despite the grueling challenges, Fisher credited the support from the local community in Matsue, Japan, as the driving force that kept him going, feeling a responsibility to represent Irish cuisine and his family throughout the enduring process.
He said, “It got to the point where I definitely couldn’t give up. In my mind, I was representing myself, my family, and Irish food, and through these attempts, I was sharing our story.
“As time went by it became clear that many people in Matsue were also wishing me well. As if I had been adopted into this community over 9,000 km from my home. How could I not persevere? That was the only option.”
Following nine days of continuous baking and cooking, Fisher produced 357 kg of soda bread and prepared 590 kg of dishes, totaling 3,360 portions spanning 32 recipes. His efforts culminated in the reward of two Guinness World Records certificates.
The Guinness World Records (GWR) confirmed his achievements on Tuesday saying “Alan Fisher (Ireland), an owner and chef of a restaurant in Japan, has broken two cooking-related Guinness World Records titles.
“First up, he’s claimed the longest cooking marathon (individual) after clocking in a time of 119 hours 57 minutes. That is more than 24 hours longer than the previous record held by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci.
“Apart from the longest cooking marathon, Alan also broke the longest baking marathon (individual). He had a time of 47 hours and 21 minutes while the previous record holder was Wendy Sandner (USA) with a time of 31 hours and 16 minutes, the Guinness World Records added.
“What’s even more impressive is that Alan took on both attempts back to back, meaning he was at work in the kitchen for over 160 hours with just over a day of rest in between!
“Alan cooked and baked for nine days and made 357 kg worth of soda bread and 590 kg worth of dishes (3,360 portions consisting of 32 recipes) during those times.”
Alan Fisher’s feat came five months after the Guinness World Record confirmed Hilda’ Baci’s adventurous cooking. The Nigerian chef broke the 87 hours and 45 minutes record held by India’s Lata Tondon since 2019.
