In this episode, the talented food writer, chef, and social media star Poppy O'Toole, also known as Poppy Cooks, joins host Samuel Goldsmith. Poppy shares her journey from training in a Michelin-starred restaurant to becoming a social media sensation. We dive into her latest book, the No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller, The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook, exploring her inventive recipes and the benefits of slow cooking. Poppy also discusses her love for potatoes, sharing mouth-watering potato dishes from around the world, and reveals some of her favourite kitchen tips and cooking confessions.

Poppy has spent a decade in professional kitchens – ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants and fine-dining experiences to serving tasty everyday food. In March 2020, while working as a junior sous chef at an exclusive members’ club, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and she lost her job. She turned to TikTok as a creative outlet, and her entertaining and educational content led to more than a million followers in just over seven months. She shares the skills she’s learned from her time in the restaurant industry to inspire and teach people how to cook at home, from the basics, right up to achievable restaurant-quality food – as well as a potato or two. Poppy published her first book in 2021, followed in 2023 by the Sunday Times best-selling Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook. She has been a judge on E4’s Celebrity Cooking School and the BBC’s Young Masterchef and is a chef-mentor on ITV’s Cooking with the Stars. Poppy lives in Birmingham with her fiancé and two dogs.

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Poppy O'Toole on slow cookers and potatoes