Olia Hercules

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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

Olia is married to British food photographer, Joe Woodhouse. They live in London with their two sons.[24][25]

References

  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. ^ "About – Olia Hercules". Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  25. ^ Testere, Alex (2025-05-29). "Olia Hercules' Kitchen Is a Haven for Plants, Art, and Community". Saveur. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
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