Olia Hercules
Olia Hercules is a London-based Ukrainian chef, food writer and food stylist.
Early life
Olia Hercules was born in Southern Ukraine in 1984,[1] and spent her early childhood in the town of Kakhovka. She is of Russian and Bessarabian (Moldovan) origin. Her father is an entrepreneur and her mother a hotel manager.[2] She moved to Cyprus at the age of 12 where the climate was deemed better for her asthma[3] and went to an English school. She settled in England at the age of 18 to study international relations and Italian at Warwick University before getting masters in Russian language and culture. Beside her native Russian, she also speaks English, Italian and some Ukrainian.[4]
Work
She started working as a film journalist but amidst the 2008 economic crisis decided to change careers. Olia Hercules began working as a chef after completing a course at Leith's School of Food and Wine in 2010.[5][6] She wrote for Jamie's magazine and was a food stylist for various publications.[7] She then went on to work at the London restaurant, Ottolenghi's as a chef-de-partie.[8][9] She has appeared on Saturday Kitchen,[10][11] and on Sunday Brunch.[12]
Personal life
She married a Greek-Cypriot man in her early twenties and kept his last name ‘Hercules’.[13] She then had a son with fellow chef Tom Catley[14] and is now married to food photographer Joe Woodhouse with whom she shares another son in London.[15]
Books
She has written the recipe book Mamushka which is a collection of Eastern European recipes. 2017 saw Hercules' second book published.[16]
Awards
- Observer's Rising Star in Food 2015
- Winner of Fortnum & Mason's Debut Food Book Award 2016
References
- "Rising stars of 2015: chef Olia Hercules". the Guardian. 2014-12-28. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- Missing, Sophie (17 May 2015) Olia Hercules and the food of warm Ukrainian summers The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- galina (2017-10-20). "Olia Hercules". Galina. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- Як фудблогерка Оля Геркулес прославила на весь світ українські літні кухні (Youtube), retrieved 2021-10-09
- "Interview". Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- "Info". Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- "Style Department Represents Olia Hercules, Food Stylist". www.styledepartment.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- Whaite, John. "Olia Hercules: the chef bringing East European food to our tables". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- "Meet Olia H". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- "24/12/2016, Saturday Kitchen - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- "Saturday Kitchen - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- admin (2020-07-19). "Olia Hercules Pot-Roast Chicken with Herby Crème Fraiche recipe on Sunday Brunch". The Talent Zone. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- Buryk, Michael. "Ukrainian British chef and author offers a fresh look at Ukrainian cuisine". The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- "A global backyard barbecue". the Guardian. 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- "About – Olia Hercules". Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- "Mitchell Beazley to publish second cookbook by Olia Hercules". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- Mamushka. Octopus Books. 4 June 2015. ISBN 9781784720384.