While nothing tops sitting down and trying mouth-watering, delicious food for yourself, living vicariously through food influencers is a close second!
Today, many talented content creators use their platform to share tasty treats and promote products from brands in the food and cooking industries. From home cooks turned social media influencers to some of the most famous chefs the world has ever seen, here are seven of the top food influencers sharing real eats in 2023.
1. Gordon Ramsay
Ask anyone to name a famous chef, and there’s a good chance Gordon Ramsay is the first name to come to mind.
Famous for his abrasive style, Gordon Ramsay is best known for his intense reality cooking shows, “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares.” However, there’s more to Chef Ramsay than just bark and bite. At a young age, Gordon Ramsay trained under some of Europe's most esteemed chefs, including Marco Pierre White, Albert Pigat, Joël Robuchon, and Guy Savoy.
When the Michelin star chef isn’t busy cooking or showcasing his fiery temper on reality TV, he’s sharing content with his millions of followers across several social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Ramsay posts a mix of educational content, behind-the-scenes glimpses into his professional life, and his signature no-nonsense approach to cooking. Along with promoting his own restaurants and products (such as his line of cookware), Gordon Ramsay has also partnered with other brands, including MasterClass and Chef Woo Ramen, to promote their products to his massive following.
2. Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver is a British chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality best known for his efforts to promote healthy eating. He gained widespread recognition in the late 1990s thanks to the BBC television series “The Naked Chef,” which emphasized simple, flavorful recipes made with fresh ingredients.
Jamie’s passion for healthy food and eating habits extends to just about every aspect of his long and storied career, including The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation (which aims to educate people about nutrition and inspire healthier eating habits) and his cookbooks, which feature easy recipes made using simple, high-quality ingredients. Jamie Oliver has also campaigned for healthier school meals and has launched initiatives to tackle childhood obesity.
You’ll find similar content on Jamie Oliver’s social media platforms. He publishes food content that helps ordinary people cook simple, healthy, great-tasting meals. From creative plant-based recipes to helpful meal prep hacks, Jamie offers his audience all the info they need to live healthier lifestyles and have fun doing it.
Along with promoting healthy recipes, Jamie Oliver has also worked to promote various cooking products to his social media followers, including products from brands such as Tefal, Phillips, and Sainsbury’s.
3. Yolanda Gampp
Yolanda Gampp is a Canadian baker, author, and YouTube personality best known for her YouTube channel, “How to Cake It.” Yolanda's channel features creative and detailed cake designs, often making cakes that perfectly replicate everyday objects such as watermelons, ice cream cones, and Christmas trees.
She commonly provides step-by-step instructions for viewers to recreate her impressive cake designs, all while working to make these tutorials entertaining and non-intimidating for people with limited baking experience.
When she’s not sharing delicious recipes, Yolanda uses her YouTube channel to promote products from brands she collaborates with, including bakeware and ingredients.
4. Dana Shultz
Dana Schultz is an American recipe developer, food writer, and the founder of Minimalist Baker — a food blog where Dana shares recipes and professional food photography.
All of the recipes that Dana shares on Minimalist Baker require 10 ingredients or less, one bowl, or 30 minutes or less to prepare. By sticking to these criteria, Dana makes her recipes realistic for the average person who might not have the time, skills, or ingredients to create more complex dishes.
Along with using Minimalist Baker to share simple yet delicious recipes, Dana also has a store on the website where she sells a wide variety of cooking products. Dana’s best-selling product is her cookbook, “Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking,” which features 101 plant-based, mostly gluten-free recipes that are delicious yet easy to make. Dana also uses her platform to promote products ranging from waffle makers to food photography equipment.
5. Ella Mills
Ella Mills, also known as Deliciously Ella, is a British author, food blogger, and advocate for healthy living. She started her food blog Deliciously Ella in 2012 after being diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome.
Following this diagnosis, Ella turned to vegan foods and natural ingredients as a way to improve her health, and she began sharing her journey on her blog. The blog's success led to the publication of several cookbooks, including “Deliciously Ella” and “Deliciously Ella Every Day.” Ella also launched a successful app, developed a line of food products, and opened a deli in London.
To both her blog followers and Instagram followers, Ella promotes plant-based recipes made from natural, unprocessed ingredients. She uses her platform to promote a wide range of products, including her own cookbooks and app, plus lifestyle and cooking products from other brands.
6. David Chang
David Chang is a Korean-American chef, restaurateur, and television personality. Along with his numerous TV appearances, David is best known for his innovative approach to food and his lasting impact on modern cuisine.
David is the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group, which started with the opening of the original Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City in 2004 and quickly gained acclaim for its unique fusion of Asian and American flavors. He also hosted and appeared on several food-related programs, including the Emmy-winning series “Ugly Delicious.”
He’s active on several social media platforms, where he uses his following to share his culinary creations, provide updates on his various restaurant ventures, and advocate for mental health awareness in the restaurant industry.
7. Alexis Nikole
Alexis Nikole Nelson (known to her followers as Alexis Nikole) is a popular figure in the urban foraging, environmental advocacy, and sustainable living communities. She rose to fame through TikTok, where she shares her expertise in identifying, harvesting, and cooking with wild edible plants found in urban environments.
Alexis is known for her passion for connecting people with the natural world around them — even in bustling city settings. She advocates for a deeper understanding of the plants that grow around us, highlighting their culinary, nutritional, and cultural value.
She’s also a vocal advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable living, frequently using her platform to raise awareness about issues such as biodiversity, habitat preservation, and the benefits of plant-based diets.
Alexis’ content usually centers around education and advocacy. However, she occasionally uses her platform to promote foraging gear such as backpacks, knives, and insect repellent.
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