Liberian-Australian Chef Evette Quoibia Breaks New Guinness World Record with 140-Hour Cooking Marathon
3 min read
In a remarkable display of endurance, passion for cooking, and nationalism, Liberian-Australian chef Evette Quoibia in Melbourne has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest solo cooking marathon at an impressive 140 hours, 11 minutes, and 11 seconds.
Evette, a restaurateur of a famous Melbourne restaurant, used her childhood love of cooking into an incredible feat that has now made her a global icon. Her menu featured a range of dishes inspired by Liberian and West African cuisine and combinations of Nigerian, Asian, and Australian cuisines for the multicultural community around her.
“Cooking started when I was eight,” Evette said. “Where other kids were playing with toys, I was playing with recipes, cups, and pots. My happy place is cooking.”
Her record-breaking journey was not just about shattering a milestone—but about honoring her heritage and overcoming adversity. Evette was born during the Liberian civil war. She and her family moved from nation to nation before eventually settling in Australia. Amidst all the chaos, there was one thing that stayed the same: her desire to do something great.
Preparation for the Challenge
Evette worked for two entire months in preparation for the marathon. With assistance from an event coordinator, church members, and volunteers, she mapped out everything from logistics to nutrition. A GoFundMe campaign was utilized to collect the funds needed to purchase ingredients in bulk form, such as cassava, semolina, yam, tomatoes, and rice—the Liberian dish staples that constitute jollof rice, cassava leaf stew, okra soup, and pepper soup.
But the actual cooking was indeed a test of human endurance. Guinness World Records dictates that contestants can take only a 20-minute break every four hours, so there wasn’t much in terms of rest and recuperation. With her rest area far from the kitchen, Evette had only 10 minutes or so to doze—if at all.
“Sometimes I’d have times when I was completely exhausted, both physically and mentally,” she admitted. “I‘d almost nap some of those brief breaks. But my staff were fantastic—keep me going and boosted my spirits.”
The Breaking Point—and Breakthrough
By day five, she was out of it, with exhaustion becoming overwhelming. Evette was numb to emotion and described as being in a haze, but still she continued pushed forward by the crowd‘s spark and encouragement from her cheering supporters. At the spot where she did at last overcome the existing mark—Alan Fisher of Ireland‘s record—Evette hadn’t even recognized that she did.
“Something in my church said it to me at a moment of quiet,” she explained. “I was shocked. Then the news was released and the room just burst out with joy—music, dancing, and, naturally, more food!”
A Message to the World
After the marathon had concluded and Guinness World Records officials had confirmed her as a winner, Evette enjoyed a well-deserved three-day nap. Looking back on the experience, she hopes her story will be an inspiration of hope and determination.
Most don‘t know what they can do until they try it,” she continued. “I want women, single moms, immigrants—people with a dream—to understand that it can be done. Where you come from, what you‘ve endured, you can make your mark.”.
With her name etched in the Guinness World Records and her culinary skills celebrated worldwide, Evette Quoibia is not just a record-breaker—she‘s a trendsetter, a cultural ambassador, and an inspiration to dreamers everywhere.
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