Overview:
Haitian chef Danaisa “Leen Wonderful” Orchestre, often known as Chef Leen, accomplished a record-breaking 192-hour cooking marathon, aiming to earn a Guinness World Data title whereas celebrating Haitian delicacies and tradition. Her feat impressed world assist and unified the Haitian diaspora.
Haitian delicacies took middle stage this April because of a exceptional feat by Danaisa “Leen Wonderful” Orchestre, who accomplished a 192-hour nonstop cooking marathon trying to safe a Guinness World Records (GWR) title. Her achievement—outclassing all her predecessors within the competitors’s historical past—has not solely captured worldwide consideration however ignited a wave of unity, pleasure, and cultural celebration amongst Haitians throughout the globe.
Initially from Guinaudée in Jean-Rabel, a commune in Haiti’s Northwest Division, Orchestre—identified on-line as Leen Excellent or Chef Leen—has grow to be an emblem of Haitian resilience and nationwide pleasure. Her historic try, which started on April 7, pushed past the earlier information of 140 hours 11 minutes and 11 seconds held by Australian Evette Quoibia and 119 hours and 57 minutes, held by Irish chef Alan Fisher. She continued even after passing that mark, cooking for a complete of eight days.
“Even when Guinness doesn’t subject us the certificates, we take into account ourselves champions as a result of we achieved our aim and broke a file,” Maxon Gustave, a Chef Leen’s group member, stated on Guy Wewe Radio’s show. It might probably take as much as 12 weeks for Guinness to evaluation footage and formally acknowledge a brand new file holder.
“Even when Guinness doesn’t subject us the certificates, we take into account ourselves champions as a result of we achieved our aim and broke a file.”
Maxon Gustave, member of Leen’s group
Born to Ermilia Octidor and Moncher Orchestre, Danaisa was raised in a tight-knit, modest neighborhood in rural Haiti’s northwest. Her self-discipline and brilliance earned her the nickname “Leen Wonderful” as a toddler, a reputation that might later outline her skilled id, a lot of her entourage confide.
She left Guinaudée for Port-au-Prince to pursue her training and finally moved to France to refine her culinary abilities. Chef Leen skilled in French gastronomy, specializing in each conventional and trendy strategies, all whereas retaining Haitian delicacies on the core of her mission.
“I, Chef Leen, am taking motion—and also you? One other Haiti is feasible! We’ll maintain transferring ahead,” she wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.
The Guinness World Data problem required members to stick to strict tips: for each steady hour of cooking, solely 5 minutes of relaxation had been permitted. All meals needed to be distributed or consumed, with meticulous documentation and time monitoring.
“I, Chef Leen, am taking motion—and also you? One other Haiti is feasible! We’ll maintain transferring ahead!”
Danaisa “Leen Wonderful” Orchestre
In the course of the marathon, Leen ready a variety of conventional Haitian dishes, together with Soup Joumou, Tchaka, Diri Kole, Mayi Moulen, Akasan and Legim. Every meal served as each nourishment and cultural testimony, celebrating Haiti’s culinary legacy. She excelled in shattering earlier information and showcasing extraordinary endurance and fervour.
Her accomplishment surpassed Quoibia’s 2024 file, Fisher’s 2023 and the 93-hour mark set by Nigerian chef Hilda Bassey Baci the identical yr. It additionally beat the December 2024 try by Ivorian chef Zeinab Bancé, who had cooked for 131 hours and half-hour.
Leen’s achievement is particularly vital given how underrepresented Haitian delicacies stays on the worldwide stage. By enduring eight days of nonstop cooking, she didn’t simply break information—she launched the world to the depth, richness and artistry of Haitian culinary traditions.
In response to her social media accounts, Chef Leen can also be a meals entrepreneur and teacher, providing cooking workshops in France and Haiti that concentrate on conventional recipes handed down by means of generations.
The Ministry of Girls’s Affairs and Girls’s Rights (MCFDF) lauded her file try, calling it “a tribute to Haitian gastronomy and a celebration of braveness and cultural excellence.”
Chef Leen’s prowess was fueled by the diaspora, neighborhood, tradition and connection.
An outpouring of assist from the Haitian diaspora powered her journey. Her TikTok live streams drew hundreds of thousands of likes, and her account surpassed 790,000 followers. Donations got here in from world wide, together with $500 from influencer Kenley Jérôme, identified as Uncle Kendji, serving to her elevate over €26,000 or about $29,600 in simply eight days.
“Haiti is sending nice constructive vitality for this lovely work. Let’s keep united and nearer to 1 one other. What we do for our nation is priceless. Haitians should rise for Haiti, and sure, we are able to. Let’s liberate Haiti.”
Haitian TikToker Caro Vieux
The assist prolonged effectively past financial contributions. On social media, Haitians shared emotional tributes, calling Leen a “ray of sunshine” and a “new face of hope for Haiti.” TikToker Caro Vieux posted:
“Let’s keep united and nearer to 1 one other. What we do for our nation is priceless. Haitians should rise for Haiti.”
One other supporter, Jude Chery, added: “Past the chaos and anarchy reigning in our nation, you embody a ray of sunshine that carries Haiti’s voice internationally.”
Cultural legacy past the file
Whether or not Guinness World Data formally validates the achievement or not, the importance of what Chef Leen has executed transcends trophies. Her story is one among id, perseverance and hope.
She represents a era of Haitians striving to be creators of change and custodians of tradition, even within the face of adversity. By her cooking, Chef Leen has not solely preserved traditions but additionally impressed a renewed appreciation for Haitian gastronomy as a car for unity and growth.
Now, the cooking marathon file is damaged. What’s subsequent for Chef Leen?
As of this writing, Guinness World Data is within the means of reviewing documentation from her problem. Within the meantime, Leen has expressed curiosity in making a culinary coaching middle in Haiti to empower younger cooks and protect native foodways. She additionally plans to publish a cookbook that includes the dishes she ready throughout her marathon.
Her success provides to a rising motion of Haitian cooks and meals advocates working to raise Caribbean delicacies internationally whereas rooting their apply in sustainability, cultural storytelling, and pleasure.
Chef Leen’s file should be pending, however her legacy is already secured.
Hinting at her pursuit of an even bigger dream, she posted on her social media account: “187 hours of continuous cooking, we did it collectively! The problem is over, but it surely’s all a dream that has simply begun. Collectively, we’re robust.”
Fritznel D. Octave, Haiti editor of The Haitian Occasions, contributed to this reporting.