Alan Fisher, an Irish restaurant owner and chef based in Japan, has dethroned Nigerian chef Hilda Baci as the new world record holder for the longest cooking marathon. Fisher achieved this remarkable feat by clocking in an astonishing time of 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Hilda Baci by over 24 hours.
Not only did Alan claim the title for the longest cooking marathon (individual), but he also set a new record for the longest baking marathon (individual) with a time of 47 hours and 21 minutes. The previous record holder for baking was Wendy Sandner from the USA, who had a time of 31 hours and 16 minutes.
What makes Alan’s achievement even more impressive is that he undertook both of these record attempts consecutively, spending over 160 hours working in the kitchen, with just over a day of rest in between the two marathons.
Throughout these record attempts, Alan Fisher had to overcome a variety of challenges. During the baking marathon, he encountered issues with his back due to hand-mixing dough, leading to discomfort and tightness in his back.
As the longest cooking marathon reached its conclusion, Alan had to battle fatigue and sleepiness, making it a true test of endurance and determination. Alan shared, “I peeled roughly 300 kg of potatoes during the cooking marathon. In the early days, I looked forward to this task in the evening because it gave me a chance to sit down.”
However, as the cooking marathon progressed, fatigue began to take its toll, and even the act of peeling potatoes became a challenge. Alan described a surreal moment during which he experienced a hallucination on the second-to-last day, thinking someone was there when no one was.
Despite these demanding conditions, Alan credited the unwavering support of the local community in Matsue, Japan, for motivating him to persevere. He felt a strong sense of responsibility, not only to himself but also to his family and Irish cuisine, as he represented their story through these record attempts. The people of Matsue, who embraced him as part of their community, also became a powerful source of encouragement.
After nine days of continuous baking and cooking, Alan had produced an impressive 357 kg of soda bread and 590 kg of various dishes, equivalent to 3,360 portions spanning 32 different recipes. His remarkable efforts were duly rewarded when he received two world record certificates, solidifying his place in the annals of culinary history.