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Olia Hercules

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olia Hercules (born 1984)[1] is a London-based Ukrainian chef, food writer and food stylist. In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine she initiated a programme of fundraising, for individuals and for UNICEF.

Early life

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Olia Hercules was born in Kakhovka, in the South of Ukraine.[1] She moved to Cyprus at the age of 12 where the climate was deemed better for her asthma[2] and went to an English school. She settled in the United Kingdom at the age of 18 to study international relations and Italian at Warwick University before obtaining a master's degree.[3]

Work

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Hercules began working as a film journalist but amidst the 2008 economic crisis decided to change careers. Olia trained at Leith's School of Food and Wine,[4] then worked as a food stylist for various publications, [5] after which she went on to work at London restaurant Ottolenghi's as a chef-de-partie (line cook).[6][7]

Hercules has appeared on Saturday Kitchen,[8][9] Sunday Brunch,[10] and Christopher Kimball's Milk Street Television.

Books

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She has written four cookbooks, including Mamushka which is a collection of Eastern European recipes.[11]

  • Mamushka: Recipes From Ukraine & Beyond (Octopus Publishing, 2015)[12]
  • Kaukasis: The Cookbook – A Journey Through the Wild East (Octopus Publishing, 2017)[11]
  • Summer Kitchens Inside Ukraine's Hidden Places of Cooking and Sanctuary (Weldon Owen, July 14, 2020)[13]
  • Home Food (Bloomsbury Publishing, 7 July 2022)[14]
  • Strong Roots (Bloomsbury Publishing, 19 June 2025)[15]

Activism

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In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hercules raised money to privately send bullet-proof vests to civilian volunteers in the Ukrainian army, including her brother.[16] With her friend, Alissa Timoshkina, the duo established the #CookForUkraine social media initiative, encouraging businesses and individuals to raise money for UNICEF and Legacy of War Foundation by cooking Ukrainian cuisine.[17][18][19] The project has raised over £2 million for UNICEF, Choose Love and the Legacy of War Foundation. [20] In 2023, Olia and Alissa set up Ukraine Hub to provide free workshops for displaced Ukrainians in the UK.

Awards

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  • The Observer Rising Star in Food 2015
  • Winner of Fortnum & Mason's Debut Food Book Award 2016
  • Champions of Change for #CookForUkraine [21]
  • Observer Food Monthly Editor's Award 2022 for #CookForUkraine [22]
  • The Guild of Food Writer's Special Award 2023 for #CookForUkraine [23]

Personal life

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She married a Greek-Cypriot man in her early twenties and kept his last name ‘Hercules’.[24] She then had a son, born in 2012, with fellow chef Tom Catley,[25] and is now married to British food photographer, Joe Woodhouse. The couple have two sons. They live in London.[26] Shortly after his birth in 2020, Hercules' youngest son showed developmental and speech delays, which led to Hercules consulting medical professionals. Through genetic testing, Hercules, her father, and her youngest son were all diagnosed with the rare disease, Fragile X. [27] In January 2025, she was named the Ambassador for Fragile X Society in the UK and speaks often to the public about the condition. [28]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rising stars of 2015: chef Olia Hercules". the Guardian. 2014-12-28. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  2. ^ galina (2017-10-20). "Olia Hercules". Galina. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  3. ^ Як фудблогерка Оля Геркулес прославила на весь світ українські літні кухні (Youtube), 28 October 2020, retrieved 2021-10-09
  4. ^ Hercules, Olia (4 June 2015). Info. Octopus Publishing. ISBN 9781784720384. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Style Department Represents Olia Hercules, Food Stylist". Style Department. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  6. ^ Whaite, John (2015-06-21). "Olia Hercules: the chef bringing East European food to our tables". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  7. ^ Stewart, Victoria (2015-06-22). "Meet Olia Hercules, the ex-Ottolenghi chef putting Ukrainian food on the map in London". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  8. ^ "24/12/2016, Saturday Kitchen - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Saturday Kitchen - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  10. ^ admin (2020-07-19). "Olia Hercules Pot-Roast Chicken with Herby Crème Fraiche recipe on Sunday Brunch". The Talent Zone. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  11. ^ a b "Mitchell Beazley to publish second cookbook by Olia Hercules". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  12. ^ Mamushka. Octopus Books. 4 June 2015. ISBN 9781784720384.
  13. ^ Hercules, Olia (2020). Summer kitchens : recipes and reminiscences from every corner of Ukraine. Elena Heatherwick, Joe Woodhouse. London. ISBN 978-1-4088-9909-0. OCLC 1139622165.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ^ "Home Food". bloomsbury.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Strong Roots A Ukrainian Family Story of War, Exile and Hope". 21 May 2025.
  16. ^ Thomson, Alice. "Olia Hercules: 'My parents are surrounded. There is no way out of the country'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  17. ^ "Russian chef joins forces with Ukrainian best friend to serve food across frontiers". the Guardian. 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  18. ^ "Olia Hercules: 'Let's not forget that Ukraine is not headlines, it's people'". the Guardian. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  19. ^ "OFM Awards 2022: Editor's Award – #CookForUkraine". the Guardian. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  20. ^ "#CookForUkraine". JustGiving. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  21. ^ "Together against war: meet Ukrainian Olia Hercules and Russian Alissa Timoshkina, Champions of Change". 50B - STORIES. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  22. ^ Lewis, Tim (2022-10-17). "OFM Awards 2022: Editor's Award – #CookForUkraine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  23. ^ Writers, Guild of Food (2023-09-06). "The Guild of Food Writers Awards 2023 - Winners Announcement". Guild of Food Writers. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  24. ^ Buryk, Michael (7 September 2018). "Ukrainian British chef and author offers a fresh look at Ukrainian cuisine". The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  25. ^ "A global backyard barbecue". the Guardian. 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  26. ^ "About – Olia Hercules". Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  27. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/uk/features/20230302/281522230291036?srsltid=AfmBOoqRjuj974HgEkHJLyHdTga86ChFNONDVowAU6ujop3JdQ8LUST7. Retrieved 2025-02-02 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. ^ Society, Fragile X. (2025-01-30). "FX Ambassador - Olia Hercules". fragilex. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
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