The proprietor of a chip shop in the East Flemish municipality of Merelbeke has set a new world record for frying chips. Joeri Cornelis of the Zoutkorrel chip shop fried for 127 hours and 24 minutes. The frying marathon that lasted more than 5 days was enough to earn Joeri a place in the Guiness Book of Records. Despite having broken the world record Joeri Cornelis aims to go a step further and fry for at least 150 hours (6 days and 6 hours).
The marathon frying session got under way at 9:45am on Tuesday and ended at 5:30pm on Sunday. Joeri was allowed 10 minutes’ rest each hour. Joeri Cornelis told VRT News that he doesn’t know how he managed to keep going for almost 5 and a half days.
“I didn't really keep an eye on the clock; it was so busy, and just a routine, running continuously for 22 hours a day, running and running again. Without realising it, I broke the record today, which is really crazy”.
Joeri is well aware that he probably would not have made it without the support of those that came to watch his world record attempt. “The audience was my greatest motivation from the first minute to the last. Eventually, there were so many people watching that I could no longer see who was there in front of me.”
150 hours
Although he is obviously pleased with his world record Joeri has now set himself a new goal of frying for at least 150 hours. However, speaking early on Sunday evening he said that he was all too aware that this won’t be easy.
“I definitely still have the energy to keep going. But it will be more difficult because I don't have to do it anymore for the record and when you don't have to do it anymore, the adrenaline drops. So I think my hardest point will come after tonight”.
Some of the money raised from the world record attempt will go to two charities: the MS League and Studio Nona that helps children with cancer.