Chef Failatu Abdul-Razak, the Ghanaian chef who cooked for 227 hours in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, has opened up about how she received the news of her unsuccessful attempt.
She mentioned that she was informed by her husband, who got the news from one of her teammates, Abdul, who was handling her GWR account.
She further added that her husband and her friends, although saddened by the news, were very supportive of her.
“When the news came, some of my fans were crying, I was surprised to see a man crying. I felt bad seeing someone cry because my Guinness World Record results came and it wasn’t pleasant. I was like, calm down, let’s not overlook all that God has done for us,” she said.
Opening up on the reasons for her disqualification, Chef Faila noted it was based on a violation of the rest break rules, adding that she had two violations, which cost her the record. She disclosed that the violations were well explained by the organizers and were easy to understand.
“If they had mentioned you didn’t cook well, you didn’t do this right, you didn’t do that right; maybe it would have hit me so hard, but they mentioned that there was a little hitch in my rest break,” she explained.
Chef Faila declared that she did not blame the timing team, who were very solid and dedicated, stating that they stayed with her throughout and left their families and jobs to support her.
Faila said she was grateful to them and that they made an effort she could never undermine.
“I wouldn’t say I hold them responsible, they were very solid young guys and young ladies who were there with me 24/7, left their various families, left their jobs, and sat there with me through it all. Believe me, gratitude will be an understatement. Even if because of my timing team, I got a hitch, I can tell you with authority that I still hold them so dear to my heart,” Chef Faila expressed.
She asserted that she understood their sadness, but she also wanted them to know that the impact they made out of the cook-a-thon did not need validation on a certificate.
Chef Faila To Refrain From Marathon
Chef Failatu Abdul Razak declared that she will not embark on another cooking marathon, all in a bid to set a Guinness World Record.
The Chef revealed that her plan now is to take advantage of the platform and opportunities the cooking marathon offered her.
She now intends to embark on other projects that would equally be beneficial to society and the nation.
Chef Faila mentioned that she was overwhelmed by the support and recognition she received from various personalities, including Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former First Lady, Lordina Mahama, the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, and Second Lady, Samira Bawumia.
She revealed that she cried out of gratitude for what God did for her during that period and for how He touched the hearts of people.
“People were asking, ‘Why is she crying?’ If these people are in, she should be jumping about. No, I was crying out of gratitude for what God did for me during that period. Touching the hearts of those people,” she noted.
Also, she thanked the prep chefs who helped her behind the scenes, the media, the markets, the women, and the whole nation for their love and support, adding that she would do anything to see the togetherness again.
“Behind the scenes of cook-a-thon were prep chefs. We only put one in front, and that was Chef Eric because we couldn’t allow everyone into the kitchen. But then there were so many wonderful ladies at the back, I thank them all,” she said.
The Chef revealed that it was the first time in many decades that a young girl took it upon herself to represent Ghana and had all the parties come together regardless of their differences, stating that it was extraordinary and she was deeply grateful.
“You have given me love that if I died today, or if I had died if I had fallen during Cook-A-Thon, it would have been worth it,” she asserted.
READ ALSO: Rex Omar Expresses Readiness For Political Appointments
