By Kaitlyn Milner Olivia Tiedemann, the private chef who went viral for posting hilarious and authentic cooking videos on social media, released her first published cookbook “Eat Like The Rich” on September 15th. Tiedemann, who boasts about 4.3 million followers on the popular app, Instagram, took the time to discuss with us why her cookbook is different then most others on the market, and why you should learn how to eat like the rich!
The cookbook promises to deliver completely unique recipes to what most people are used to seeing, and are based on Tiedemann’s experience as a private chef working for clients that allowed her to be in a “…state of absolute creative freedom” when preparing meals. Most of them had adventurous taste buds, which gave her the opportunity to try out some things that wouldn’t be seen in a typical kitchen setting. That was a part of why the cookbook was such a journey, because most of the time Tiedemann cooked based on vibes and taste tests, rather than living by a strict recipe.
Tiedemann said,“A lot of the time I fly by the seat of my pants, and I’ll make the same thing, but I’m not necessarily measuring it the same way every time”, and therefore a lot of effort went into making sure people could follow them at home and get the same results. In support of the idea that you can make great food at home, Tiedemann says that “The most important specialty tool to have most of the time is gonna be a blender” so high-quality results can be accessible to everyone.
Another element that makes the new cookbook so attractive is that Tiedemann has never released one of her recipes to the public before, despite numerous comment sections full of people requesting them. Lots of her recipes are in high demand, and there’s already been interest on social media to get a hold of her delicious dinners. Tiedemann said, “I don’t think it’s common for, like, people to be writing a cookbook that hasn’t been, you know, selling or releasing recipes”.
To provide a bit of context on who exactly Olivia Tiedemann is, it’s important to trace her entry in the celebrity scene back to her first time going viral about three years ago. It began after she began posting videos of herself making meals for her clients as a private chef, and her easy ability to relate to an audience and witty sense of humor had people quickly obsessed. Her following soared, and from there she’s been able to maintain her engagement online through routine posts.
Obviously, the virality has led to a huge change in her life, but Tiedemann has managed to keep the same clients she had initially and continues to the thing she loves with social media mixed in. Tiedemann said “I think balance is like the hardest thing to find in all of it because I mean, it’s also a creative job”, and that one way she finds balance is by prioritizing the things that are fulfilling to her. A piece of advice she had to share with anyone hoping for similar online success is to find something you’re organically doing, like a passion, and then share that with the world.
The inspiration behind the cookbook is obvious from the title: anyone should be able to eat like the rich. Tiedemann believes that everyone should have the ability to make good food “No matter what they have in their kitchen” and that the secret behind a fantastic meal is mostly in the technique. Her goal for the book was to make it accessible to every kitchen, and make sure it was developed “…in a way that’s meant to be fun and kind of in [her] own voice”.
The press tour for the book was nontraditional, and Tiedemann aimed to push herself away from the typical stuffy author signature parties in the back of the shop. Instead, she hosted a release party at Porchlight, a local bookstore known for its casual and fun environment to buy either a good book or a delicious coffee. The cookbook will be available online or in-store at most major retailers.
If you’re interested in seeing more of Tiedemann’s content, here is her instagram, where she posts regularly about her daily life.
