You’ ve built a huge following on social media just by sharing your love of food. When did you first realise this could actually become your career? I didn’ t start creating content thinking it would become my career. Food has always been my passion, and in early 2021 a friend suggested I start sharing my recipes on TikTok. I simply wanted to help people feel more confident in the kitchen and show that cooking doesn’ t have to be complicated. As my audience grew, I realised it wasn’ t just about sharing recipes anymore – it was about building a community around something I genuinely love.
What, in your opinion, is the one mistake food influencers make? I’ ve never seen myself as a food influencer. I see myself as a food content creator. My goal has always been to inspire, educate, and help people feel more confident in the kitchen, rather than focusing solely on influencing what people buy or eat. One mistake I think creators make is chasing perfection. Audiences connect with authenticity, not perfection. Stay true to who you are, don’ t be afraid to show the mistakes, and don’ t lose yourself chasing all the trends.
You’ re now the Essential Flavours Cooking Show ambassador and presenter; what do you want people to walk away with after watching the show? More than anything, I want people to walk away feeling inspired and excited to get into the kitchen. Cooking can feel intimidating, but I hope the show proves that delicious, flavour-packed meals can be simple and enjoyable. If viewers leave with new ideas, greater confidence, and the excitement to try a recipe themselves – or even just pick up the Essential Flavours magazine for more inspiration – that would be amazing.
What’ s the one thing you’ d tell anyone picking up the Essential Flavours magazine for the first time so they would feel more at home in the kitchen? Don’ t be afraid to make mistakes. Every good cook has learned through trial and error, and the more you cook, the more confident you’ ll become. Start with simple recipes, trust the process, and enjoy it. The kitchen should be a place of creativity, and Essential Flavours is the perfect place to find approachable recipes that help build that confidence.
South African food is getting serious attention around the world right now. In which area do you think we’ re still not giving our own cuisine enough credit? Yes, our food is finally getting the recognition it deserves, but we still don’ t celebrate just how diverse our cuisine really is. We have incredible flavours and influences, from Cape Malay and Indian cooking to traditional African dishes and our braai culture. I’ d love to see more South Africans proudly celebrating our own food, because some of the best flavours in the world can be found right here at home.
Is there a flavour combination you first thought sounded terrible but then it completely won you over? Butter chicken and pasta! When you think of butter chicken, you picture it with naan, roti, or rice. Pasta, on the other hand, is usually associated with Italian flavours. On paper, they shouldn ' t work together, but once I tried it, I was completely won over. It even inspired me to create a butter chicken lasagna, which has become one of my favourite twists on a classic.
How do you feel watching yourself back hosting the Essential Flavours cooking shows on YouTube, and which episode has been your favourite so far? I’ m incredibly grateful to Essential
Flavours for the opportunity. I can definitely see the growth. I was overthinking everything at the beginning, but with every episode I’ ve become more confident and comfortable in front of the camera. If I had to choose a favourite, it would be the recent“ Mystery Box” challenge. Working with Elroy and Karen brought such a fun energy to the show, and I think those episodes have taken it to another level.
What would success look like for Nicholas Fraser 10 years from now? Would food still need to be part of the picture? Ten years from now, food isn’ t just part of the picture – it is the picture. I see multiple Nicholas Fraser cookbooks on shelves, a cooking show reaching audiences around the world, and a food brand that reflects everything I stand for. More than anything, I want to help put South African food on the global stage. If people hear my name and immediately think of South African food, flavour, culture, and storytelling, I’ ll know I’ ve achieved exactly what I set out to do.
essentialflavours. co. za • Spring 2026 | 13