JUST IN: Longest Cooking Marathon Record Broken as Irish Chef Dethrones Hilda Baci

In a remarkable culinary feat, Alan Fisher, an Irish chef and owner of Kyojin Stewhouse in Japan, has shattered two Guinness World Records related to cooking. First, he clinched the title for the longest cooking marathon (individual) by clocking an astonishing 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci by over 24 hours. Alan then went on to achieve the longest baking marathon (individual) with a remarkable time of 47 hours and 21 minutes, toppling the previous record held by Wendy Sandner from the USA, which stood at 31 hours and 16 minutes.

What sets this achievement apart is that Alan took on both record attempts consecutively, putting in over 160 hours of continuous kitchen work with just over a day of rest in between.

Alan’s journey to this culinary milestone began in 2008 when he graduated from Dublin City University and sought new challenges. Through an overseas graduate program that connected Irish graduates with companies in Asia, he received a job offer in Tokyo. Six years later, Alan established himself in Tokyo and met his future wife and business partner. However, he yearned for a new challenge beyond the corporate world and decided to venture into the restaurant business, centering it around Irish food and culture.

Alan’s restaurant, Kyojin Stewhouse, focuses on traditional Irish dishes like stews, soups, homemade bread, and potatoes, providing customers not only with a taste of Ireland but also a sense of being in his home.

The inspiration for breaking records came during the “I Love Ireland” festival in Tokyo, where Alan learned about the longest cooking marathon record. His initial research revealed that the record was held by Lata Tondon from India with a time of 87 hours and 45 minutes. Later, he discovered that Hilda Baci had extended the record to 93 hours and 11 minutes.

Despite facing financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alan found inspiration in the achievements of Lata and Hilda and decided to embark on his own record-breaking journey. He meticulously planned the attempt, including food distribution to ensure no wastage and filming the challenge for evidence.

During the record attempts, Alan encountered various obstacles, from back pain during the baking marathon to fatigue and sleepiness towards the end of the cooking marathon. However, the support of the Matsue community and his dedication to representing his family and Irish food kept him going.

After nine days of relentless baking and cooking, Alan had produced an impressive 357 kg of soda bread and 590 kg of various dishes, totaling 3,360 portions across 32 recipes. His perseverance paid off when he received two world record certificates.

In Alan’s own words, “Records are made to be broken, but for today at least, I can hold both simultaneously. So many sleepless nights, early mornings, anxieties, and financial stress to keep the business alive. Just head down and persevere. Breaking these records is a fitting way to share our story and create a little awareness about the Irish connection here in Matsue.” Alan’s culinary triumph has not only set new records but also shared a piece of Ireland with the world.