No longer just a niche corner of the internet, food content has taken social media platforms by storm. Over the past few years, professional chefs and self-taught cooks have taken over our feeds— carving out a sizable slice of online culture in the process. They have made their way into our kitchens via recipes that make us believe we, too, could whip up a five-star meal in our shoebox kitchen (*crying in student*). Each bringing their own unique spin to beloved staples, comfort food has turned into content we are saving to our camera roll… and almost never recreating. And the trend isn’t passing our region by. A fresh crop of creators are reimagining age-old recipes, taking what’s been passed down and giving them the glow-up they’ve always deserved.
Always busy whipping up the next It dish, we slid into the DMs of three of our favorite foodies to get personal — and ask the question every follower is dying to know: what’s the one dish they’d eat anytime, anywhere, no questions asked?
Afnan Alamir (@afnanrecipes)
Age: 34 Country of origin: Palestine
@afnanrecipes مع Mille World، قررنا نودّع آخر أيام الشهر الفضيل بوصفة مميزة عملت فيها ‘الدقة الغزاوية’—وهي أكلة بسيطة بس طعمها بياخدك على غزة، على ريحة البلاد، وبتنفع جنب أي أكلة على السفره. #وصفات #recipe #ramadanwithtiktok #tiktokcookbook #ramadan2025 #salad ♬ original sound – afnanrecipes
What inspired you to start creating content?
My love for cooking was the main inspiration behind my journey into content creation. I was always experimenting in the kitchen, cooking for my family, and trying out new recipes; so I decided to share my passion with others in late 2020. TikTok was the perfect platform for me because it allowed me to be creative and engage directly with my audience. I loved how quickly videos could go viral, and the excitement from my followers motivated me to keep going. One of the biggest turning points was when my Lunch Box series went viral, gaining millions of views and becoming a trend for a while.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out as a content creator?
One of the biggest challenges was dealing with negative comments. It’s natural for people to have different opinions, but sometimes the criticism can be harsh. Over time, I learned to focus on the positive energy from my followers and not let negativity affect me. Another challenge was constantly coming up with new ideas. Creating fresh and engaging content is crucial to keeping the audience interested, so I always pushed myself to add creative twists to my recipes.
Which dishes have been the most popular among your audience and inspired most people to cook?
Some of my most successful recipes include my Lunch Box ideas, which became a huge hit among parents and kids. Another fan favorite was my Pink Pasta, which gained a lot of attention and was recreated by many followers. Additionally, my World Cuisine series, where I introduced dishes from different cultures, received incredible engagement and positive feedback.
What’s the one dish you’d eat anytime, anywhere, no questions asked?
Any kind of salad on any day of the week!
Firas Kazma (@firaskazma)
Age: 48 Country of origin: Lebanon
@firaskazma With @milleworlddotcom we decided to celebrate the last few moments of the holy month by sharing a recipe that means a lot to me — Fteerit Awarma. This dish takes me straight back to the mountains of Lebanon. It’s one of those comfort foods we always make in winter, and for me, it’s tied to my dad. Every time I go back home, he makes sure there’s awarma ready — it’s his way of saying “welcome back.” There’s something about his version that just hits different… and that’s the feeling I wanted to share in this video. #RamadanVibes #FteeritAwarma #TasteOfLebanon #MilleWorld #TikTokCollab #LebaneseTradition #ComfortFood #RamadanRecipes #FirasKazma #MiddleEasternFlavors #T#TikTokCookBook R#Ramadan2025 ♬ original sound – C.E.O Street food
What inspired you to start creating content?
I’ve always had a deep passion for food— the kind of love that’s not just about taste, but about the memories and the stories behind every bite. (…) I never wanted to create polished, chef-style videos. I wanted to show real food, real reactions, and connect with people who share the same love for trying something new every day.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out as a content creator?
One of the main challenges was keeping up with the pace of content creation while constantly pushing boundaries. I wasn’t just creating recipes— I was traveling, tasting, reviewing, and curating food experiences from thousands of restaurants. It’s a full-time obsession, not a hobby. Building trust with my audience meant always showing up with something real, something worth talking about, and that consistency, especially at the beginning, required serious hustle.
Which dishes have been the most popular among your audience and inspired most people to cook?
The deeply traditional Lebanese dishes always create the biggest impact. Things like ftiret shawarma, raw meat (kebbeh nayyeh), labneh with fried eggs, and mouneh-style spread— these are the dishes that trigger emotion and memories. Every time I post something that reminds people of their grandparents’ kitchen, the response is overwhelming. It’s clear that people are hungry for food with roots.
What’s the one dish you’d eat anytime, anywhere, no questions asked?
Ceviche everyday!
Hisham Baeshen (@misho_baeshen)
Age: 38 Country of origin: Saudi Arabia
@misho_baeshen لو أقول لك كابلي، وش أول شيء يخطر على بالك؟ 🍛🤓 الكابلي أكلة ولدت في أرض الحجاز، ونكهتها ما تلاقي لها شبيه أبد😍👌 بس الاسم؟ مثل أشياء كثيرة في عالم الأكل، أحياناً ما يكون له علاقة بالأصل، زي الصلصة الروسية اللي ما لها دخل بروسيا، أو الفرنش توست اللي الفرنسيين ما اخترعوه أصلا😂 عيدكم مبارك مع @milleworlddotcom المكونات دجاجة (1 كيلو) 2 طماطم مهروسة م ك معجون طماطم 2 م ك بهارات الكابلي 8 كوب كويه م ص فلفل أسود م ص كمون مطحون م ص كزبرة مطحونة م ص كركم 8 حبات هيل 3 حبات بطاطس 2 عود قرفة 4 كوب رز بسمتي 2 م ك زيت 3 بصلات متوسطة مقلية 3 فصوص ثوم مفروم رشة زعفران 4 م ك مويه كادي الإرشادات:- 1-نحط الدجاج في قدر الضغط، نغطيه بالمويه ونتركه يغلي، بعدين نهدي النار ونخليه 10 دقايق حتى يصير لونه ذهبي. 2- نضيف البصل المقلي، البهارات، والثوم على الدجاج، بعدين نضيف فوقه كمية مناسبة من المويه والبطاطس. 3-نغطي القدر ونتركه على نار هادية لين يستوي الدجاج تماما 4- في قدر ثاني، نسلق الرز نصف استواء لمدة 10 دقايق. 5- نرش الزعفران ومويه الكادي على الرز، بعدين نغطيه يكمل استواءه على البخار. 6- نقدمه بصحن كبير ويتزين على حسب ذوقكم وبالعافية عليكم حبايبي #tiktokcookbook #ramadan2025 ♬ original sound – هشام باعشن
What inspired you to start creating content?
As a content creator, I value audience diversity, and TikTok offers this by connecting me with a global user base from varied backgrounds. That’s why I chose it, as its algorithm targets niche communities, ensuring my content reaches the right audience and encourages meaningful engagement.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out as a content creator?
Forming a team and setting professional standards was a major challenge for me, as success is impossible without a strong team. To build one, define roles clearly, encourage open communication, and foster a collaborative culture to ensure everyone thrives.
Which dishes have been the most popular among your audience and inspired most people to cook?
My Ramadan recipes are the core, but my series on traditional Arab dishes—like the Syrian, Yemeni, and Moroccan ones—has truly inspired people. I’ll soon cover more Arab countries.
What’s the one dish you’d eat anytime, anywhere, no questions asked?
Shawrema without a doubt!
