If you’ve ever seen a Cypriot foodie on Channel 7’s TV program The Morning Show, it was most likely the energy-filled Nikoletta Nicolaou – the mastermind behind Instagram page Nikoletta’s Kitchen.
From 9 to 5pm, the Instagram food blogger works as a creative advertiser and with the rest of her time, she’s in the kitchen cooking for her family and friends all whilst capturing the recipes for her thousands of followers.
“I really, really love food. And I love how the kitchen just brings people together in so many different levels,” Nikoletta tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
Nikoletta’s Kitchen began almost 13 years ago on Instagram when Nikoletta was in London, the United Kingdom and the social media platform was a lot quieter and not as polished.
“I was training for my first ever London Marathon and to raise funds I’d do bake sales. My friend goes: ‘you should just take pictures and share them on Instagram’,” Nikoletta explains.
Initially called Nikoletta’s Bakes, she eventually transitioned the page to Nikoletta’s Kitchen after moving to Australia in 2015 and wanting to delve into more Cypriot recipes.
“I think as we grow older, we appreciate that side of our life a little bit more, where we have those feelings of nostalgia and want to hold on to the way our mothers and grandmothers cooked and sort of preserve the cuisine that we come from,” she says.
Keeping the Cypriot culture alive:
Raised in London, Nikoletta says she was always “really close” to her Greek-Cypriot culture.
“I grew up in Palmers Green which was sometimes called Palmer’s Greek for the number of Cypriots and also Turkish Cypriots,” she says with a chuckle, whilst adding that she would spend all her summers in Cyprus because it’s only a four hour flight from London.
Nikoletta’s passion and love for Cyprus and its culture is undeniable. Her Instagram page is filled with vibrant pictures of Cypriot food and wholesome cooking (and sometimes dancing) videos, emphasising that food is about culture, family and friends.
“It’s not just a recipe and it’s more than just food,” she says.
“When someone messages me on Instagram and they’re like, ‘Nic, I made one of your recipes and it took me back to when my mum, who has passed, would make it’… it is so heartfelt.”
Using social media as a conduit to make people feel through food, whether that is feelings of nostalgia or happiness, is what drives Nikoletta to share her recipes.
“I want to continue to share those nostalgic moments and keep preserving the Cypriot cuisine but also having fun with it as well – doing modern takes on traditional recipes and playing around with those flavors,” she explains.
Getting people confident in the kitchen with traditional food is another driving factor for her passion project.
“There’s this Cypriot food called ‘flaounes’ that everyone’s scared of making but when someone messages me and says they made them and they turned out great, I’m so happy!” she says.
Speaking with Nikoletta, I can see why over 14,000 people follow her content. Whether her followers are Cypriot or not, her desire to keep Cypriot culture alive emboldens one to get in the kitchen and make traditional recipes.
“A few years ago, I used to teach cooking classes to Aboriginal foster kids and the elder there would explain how important culture is. She told me that, ‘if you look after culture, our culture will look after you’, Nikoletta says.
This mantra has stuck with her and her passion for preserving Cypriot food and culture has made it to TV screens and mobile phones across Australia and the world.
“I think it’s really important for us to really hold on to our culture, because that’s what makes us unique,” she concludes. “That’s what makes us different.”
