Nigerian chef, Damilola Adeparusi, popularly known as Chef Dammy, has cleared the air on speculation that she is planning to cook the largest pot of beans.
The chef, who gained nationwide recognition after her 2023 cook-a-thon attempt, made the clarification in a video posted on social media on Wednesday.
Her statement followed widespread online chatter linking her to another record-breaking attempt shortly after celebrity chef Hilda Baci’s successful preparation of the largest serving of jollof rice.
“Why Would I Cook Beans?” – Chef Dammy
In the video, Chef Dammy congratulated Hilda Baci for her recent culinary feat, describing it as “a win for everybody in Nigeria, and to all the African countries.”
She, however, denied any involvement in a “largest pot of beans” project, explaining that even some of her classmates had asked her about it.
“Some of my classmates are still telling me that, ‘Dammy, do you truly want to cook beans?’ Like, no! Why would I do that?” she said.
Grateful for Support Despite Past Challenges
Now studying for a professional culinary diploma at the Hospitality Business School in Lagos on a full scholarship, the Ekiti-born chef expressed gratitude to her supporters, mentors, and those who stood by her financially and emotionally.
“I would just like to say thank you to everybody that has been supporting me, to everybody that has been fighting on my behalf online, to my school mothers, to everybody, and to everybody that has helped in my growth and promotion,” she said.
Chef Dammy also recalled how her cook-a-thon unexpectedly went viral in 2023, admitting that she did not inform her parents beforehand.
She revealed that the attention and backlash that followed left her emotionally drained.
“Even the cook-a-thon, I didn’t know it was going to be viral. I didn’t even tell my parents about it; they just saw me. I was shocked to see myself on social media,” she said.