Bold and delicious: Big Zuu is redefining food TV
Big Zuu is one of food television's hottest tickets right now. From the highly successful BBC series Big Eats to his culinary pilgrimage to Mecca, he has redefined what it means to mix food, culture and entertainment.
Whether he's cooking for celebrities, spitting bars or taking audiences on a global flavour journey, his infectious persona and seemingly boundless energy make every show he leads a must-watch.
Big Zuu's 12 Dishes in 12 Hours is his latest mega-eat show and will be airing on BBC Lifestyle on DSTV from 18 February. The show features Zuu and an all-star lineup of guests, including Oti Mabuse, as they race through Europe to uncover the best local delicacies each city has to offer.
With just 12 hours to devour 12 dishes, Zuu gets to grips with street food, fine dining and hidden gems.
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The eternal appeal of food shows, why do you think this is so?
People love watching food, it's eye-catching, interesting, and inspiring. It makes you want to try different things. I'm addicted to food shows. My favourites are Anthony Bourdain, Action Bronson, Mark Wiens, and Gordon Ramsay. I grew up watching people eat, and it made me want to eat more. In my house, we had a ritual—we couldn't eat unless we watched someone else eat first!
The kitchen can be a hair-raising place. What does it mean to you?
I think it's the heart of your house. A lot of people spend time in their living room, but for me, it's the opposite. The kitchen is where people get their food, grab a snack, have a drink—it's where the magic happens.
How would you describe your humour?
I'm very random and also off the cuff. I don't like offending people—I don't think humour should come from making someone feel bad. I like to say things that people don't expect. My comedy is feel-good. I make a lot of feel-good comedy.
Who was the most intimidating person you've ever cooked for, and why?
Probably Jimmy Carr. He was the first guest we ever had on Big Eats, and I remember feeling so intimidated interviewing and cooking for him. He's a massive comedian, very famous. But after Jimmy, I was like, 'Okay, if I can handle him, everyone else is easy.'
Mecca, the Umrah, and Arabic food. Share with us your love of the flavours of the Middle East. What makes it enticing?
I've been very blessed to visit different parts of the Middle East, whether it's the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Lebanon. Having Lebanese heritage means I grew up with incredible Middle Eastern food. The people are beautiful, and their culture is all about giving, sharing, and hospitality. There's a reason why it's so connected to Africa as well—it's all about generosity and warmth, which is what I love about the Middle East.
Who truly invented baklava? The Greeks, the Lebanese or the Turkish?
I'm always going to say the Lebanese! I don't know the actual history, but even if the Lebanese didn't create it, we still do it the best.
What do you attribute the success of 'Big Eats' to? It's had such a long run.
It was a format no one had ever seen before, three brothers from the hood cooking for famous people in a food truck in England. It didn't make sense, and we were fish out of water. We had no idea what we were doing, but we had fun, and we showed our love for food. The British viewers connected with that. We were lucky to receive a lot of accolades, and Big Eats opened doors for me… We started in 2019, and years later, we're still going strong.
When you're at home, what do you cook for yourself?
Yesterday, I made sweet chilli chicken tenders, a pasta bake and an apple crumble. I cook a lot of random stuff, but it's always very morish food that gives you high cholesterol! My go-to is macaroni and cheese with wings.
Tell us about your music career. You've released an album called Navigating and the single that preceded that, Uncontrollable, a few years ago…
I've got a new album coming out on 7 March with my guy, Capo Lee. It is a collaboration album. I'm always dropping new singles. Music is my love. I started when I was 19, so I'm 10 years deep in the game. I was lucky that my music took me across the world and gave me incredible opportunities. But no matter what, music is my passion, and I always spit bars. That's what we call it — we spit bars.
You also participated in Celebrity Bear Hunt. How was that?
Mental! No spoilers, but I did very well on the show. It's only been out for less than a week, and I've received so much love and appreciation. I never thought it would do this well, but it has, and I'm very thankful.
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