His remarkable feat began with the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), a remarkable 119 hours and 57 minutes. This astounding achievement surpasses the previous record held by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci by more than 24 hours.
Nigerian cooking queen Hilda Baci has been dethroned 😳
Alan Fisher from Ireland cooked for an incredible 119 hours and 57 minutes at his restaurant in Japan 🥄
Advertisement— Guinness World Records (@GWR) November 7, 2023
Alan then went on to secure the record for the longest baking marathon (individual), clocking in at 47 hours and 21 minutes, leaving the previous record holder, Wendy Sandner of the USA, and her 31 hours and 16 minutes behind.
What’s even more awe-inspiring is that Alan undertook both endeavors consecutively, spending over 160 hours in the kitchen with just over a day of rest in between!
Showcasing Irish Culture in Japan
In 2008, after graduating from Dublin City University, Alan Fisher sought a new challenge. Through an overseas graduate program that introduced Irish graduates to opportunities in Asia, Alan received a job offer in Tokyo.
Six years later, Alan had firmly established himself in Tokyo, even meeting his future wife and business partner. However, he began to feel a sense of restlessness.
“After our wedding and bidding farewell to the 30 friends and family who had come to Japan, I found myself feeling trapped, wondering if this was it—raising kids and working for the same company. I knew it was time for the next big adventure.”
In August 2014, Alan took a leap of faith and embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, choosing Irish food and culture as the central themes of his new venture.
Overcoming Challenges during the Record Attempt
During his record-breaking attempts, Alan faced a variety of challenges. While attempting the longest baking marathon (individual) record, he experienced back pain due to hand-mixing dough, causing discomfort and soreness.
As the longest cooking marathon (individual) record neared its conclusion, Alan battled fatigue and drowsiness. “I peeled approximately 300 kg of potatoes during the cooking marathon. In the early days, I looked forward to this nightly task as it allowed me to sit down.”
“However, as the cooking marathon neared its end, fatigue started to take its toll, and I found it increasingly difficult to stay awake while peeling. The rhythmic peeling almost had a hypnotic effect on me. I even experienced a hallucination on the second-to-last day. I turned to ask someone for something, as I would on any regular day, only to realize that no one was there.”
After nine days of continuous baking and cooking, Alan had produced 357 kg of soda bread and 590 kg of dishes, equivalent to 3,360 portions spanning 32 recipes. His hard work paid off when he received his well-deserved certificates for two world records.
