Friend of Graza: Fraser Fitzgerald
Q: How do you describe yourself?
F: The World's Nicest Chef.
Q: Finish this sentence: Cooking for me is _____
F: Relaxing, nourishing, & a creative outlet that I get to share with friends and family.
Q: What's your current favorite sweet treat?
F: Dairy free double chocolate brownies!
Q: Do you think you're more like Sizzle or more Drizzle?
F: Sizzle! Cooking for me is so hands on and can be fast paced. Nothing like a sizzle in a ripping hot pan before searing off some vegetables or whipping up a sauce.
Q: Who do you turn to, watch, or follow for food inspiration?
F: Currently, my Chef friend Sara Tecero is amazing! I've also been into Mike from Pro Home Cooks, his gardening and fermentation knowledge is deep and something I'm always trying to get better at. I also love the aesthetic of Chuck and Hailee are like my version of a Hollywood celebrity couple! It just seems like we'd be good friends in real life.
Q: What’s one piece of advice or a practice you see in the food world you think is overrated, overly aspirational, unhelpful, or is otherwise just not the vibe?
F: Over complicating recipes just for the sake of it. I want to see recipes that I'd actually want to replicate and with ingredients that are accessible to people. Food doesn't have to be complicated to taste amazing. Also the chopped sandwich trend is something I don't understand.
Q: What are your all-around life mottos, mantras, philosophies? What guides you in the kitchen?
F: I always try to be kind and treat others how I want to be treated. Community over competition. No gatekeeping. There are billions of people on the planet, which means there is space for everyone to find success. In the kitchen, I am always inspired to cook dishes my family would love or would wow my friends. Nothing makes me happier than cooking for other people.
Q: You're known for your tasty plant based recipes—what has been your favorite recipe you've made to date?
F: I cook so much, it's hard to think of an all time favourite. My sticky toffee pudding is a favourite of mine and definitely a great dessert option for any occasion. I also love my smoked tofu bacon recipe. So crispy!
Q: What's something most people get wrong or don't know about plant based cooking?
F: Overcomplicate it! Overcook vegetables and treat them like an afterthought. Cooking is supposed to be fun and stress free and you don't need all of the fancy plant based alternatives or ingredients to make an amazing plant based dish.
Q: What has been bringing you joy lately?
F: Our dog Joni, going to the gym and running outside, my niece Frankie and getting our backyard garden ready for spring!
Q: What's on the horizon for you!
F: I am working on my goal to grow my community to 1 million on IG and bringing life back into my YouTube channel! I am also dialing in my backyard pizza cooking set-up so I can host lots of pizza parties this summer.