Liberian-Australian chef Evette Quoibia has etched her name into the record books after cooking continuously for over 140 hours, setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest individual cooking marathon
Now based in Melbourne, where she runs her own restaurant, Evette’s love for cooking started early. While other children played with toys, she spent time in the kitchen, helping her family prepare meals and experimenting with pots and pans.
That childhood passion fueled her recent accomplishment, which saw her cook non-stop for 140 hours, 11 minutes, and 11 seconds—surpassing the previous record held by Ireland’s Alan Fisher. Her dishes reflected her roots, featuring traditional Liberian and West African meals like jollof rice, cassava leaves, pepper soup, and okra soup, along with dishes influenced by Nigerian, Asian, and Australian flavors.
Born amid Liberia’s civil war, Evette and her family eventually resettled in Australia. Determined to chase a lifelong dream, she saw the Guinness challenge as an opportunity to showcase her endurance and skills. “This was within my reach,” she said. “Cooking is what I do, and I believed I could push myself to this limit.”
In preparation, she spent two months organizing the event, working with volunteers, her church, and even launching a GoFundMe campaign to purchase bulk ingredients like semolina, cassava, tomatoes, and rice.
The marathon came with challenges. Allowed only 20-minute breaks every four hours, she often had just 10 minutes of rest before heading back to the stove. “I struggled with sleep and felt mentally drained, especially on the fourth and fifth days,” she recalled. “But my team and the community really kept me going.”
Evette didn’t even realize when she passed the record-breaking mark—someone from her church had to announce it to her. “I was just focused on cooking,” she said. “That moment was incredible—pure joy.”
After her achievement was confirmed, she celebrated with music, dancing, and, of course, more food—before finally catching up on three days of much-needed rest.
Looking back, Evette shared a message of hope: “So many people don’t know what they’re capable of until they try. I want women, single moms, and young people to know that big dreams are possible.”
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