MasterChef star and YouTube creator Nick DiGiovanni
Aaron Idelson
In the fast-paced world of content creation, few have risen as meteorically as Nick DiGiovanni. The young chef and YouTuber, who first gained fame as a contestant on MasterChef, has since become a culinary powerhouse in his own right, amassing millions of followers across social media platforms. Now, he’s set his sights on surpassing his former mentor, the legendary Gordon Ramsay, in YouTube subscribers – a goal that seems increasingly within reach.
A Passion Sparked Early
DiGiovanni’s love for cooking began at a tender age, nurtured by his family’s passion for food. “I was really lucky to grow up surrounded by so many people who loved food just as much as I do now,” he shares. “My grandmother and great grandmother in particular were both exceptionally great cooks.” This early exposure laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong pursuit.
By the age of eight or nine, DiGiovanni was already compiling his own recipe book. “We have a little cookbook… it’s a green binder filled with all these little scraps of ideas and recipes that I compiled,” he recalls fondly. This early enthusiasm foreshadowed the creativity and dedication that would later define his career.
The MasterChef Turning Point
DiGiovanni’s journey took an unexpected turn when he stumbled upon a MasterChef audition poster while walking to class in college. “I loved food and was working at restaurants during college to make some money,” he explains. “Then one day I was on the way to class, I passed a poster board for MasterChef, and a few days later, I showed up to this audition… and then, I know it sounds so cliche, but the rest is history.”
This serendipitous moment would prove to be a pivotal point in DiGiovanni’s career, introducing him to the world of food media and setting him on the path to becoming a content creator.
Finding His Voice on Social Media
After MasterChef, DiGiovanni began experimenting with content creation, starting with TikTok in 2019. “I started making some random videos at home, just playing around with, at first, an iPhone, and then I got this sort of a little bit nicer camera,” he recounts.
His breakthrough came with an unexpected hit – a video showing the process of making chocolate from a fresh cacao pod. “People were so fascinated with it,” DiGiovanni notes. “No one had ever sort of seemed to have seen how chocolate is made. But we all know and love chocolate.” This video sparked a realization about his content strategy: combining educational elements with a wow factor.
DiGiovanni has since developed his signature style, including his trademark knife throw at the beginning of videos. “I look at that as my way of grabbing your attention with something that’s a bit edgy and dangerous, also saying that we shouldn’t really take the kitchen too seriously,” he explains.
The YouTube Challenge: Surpassing Gordon Ramsay
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline in DiGiovanni’s career is his friendly competition with Gordon Ramsay, his former MasterChef mentor. DiGiovanni has set his sights on surpassing Ramsay’s YouTube subscriber count, a goal that seemed distant at first but is now within reach.
“I’m really grateful for my start on MasterChef, of course, and I would say it’s arguably the most famous cooking show in the world, and I think a lot of that is due to Gordon Ramsay,” DiGiovanni acknowledges. “For me to be able to say that he was my mentor⦠I think that itself just sort of says it all.”
Despite the competition, there’s clearly respect and admiration between the two chefs. “He’s got this incredibly sharp set of culinary skills. He’s got a huge business empire, but he also, and I think what I’m most excited about is that he cares so deeply about sharing all of his skills with people who will listen.”
As for the YouTube challenge, DiGiovanni is confident: “I do predict that we’ll catch him by the end of this year at the latest.” He adds with a touch of humor, “I think he knows at this point. I hate to say it, but I think he knows that it’s gonna happen. It’s just a question of when.”
Culinary Inspirations: From Family to Michelin Stars
While DiGiovanni’s journey has been shaped by his MasterChef experience and his friendly rivalry with Gordon Ramsay, his culinary inspirations run deep and diverse. When asked about his biggest culinary influences, DiGiovanni’s response is both heartfelt and surprising.
“I’d want Gordon to cover his ears if he were listening right now,” DiGiovanni jokes, “But I would say my family.” He speaks with particular reverence about his great-grandmother, whose lifetime of cooking experience left an indelible mark on him. “My great grandmother… basically cooked all the way up until she passed away when she was 101,” he recalls. “When I think about it now, the amount of knowledge and prowess in the kitchen that she had after working in the kitchen for that long, it’s sort of priceless, and I almost probably took that for granted when I was a kid.”
This familial influence underscores the importance of tradition and personal connection in DiGiovanni’s approach to cooking. It’s a reminder that even as he pushes the boundaries of culinary content creation, his roots remain firmly planted in the home kitchens where his passion first took hold.
But DiGiovanni’s inspirations extend beyond family, reaching into the world of high-end cuisine. He speaks with admiration about James Kent, a chef he worked with on several videos. Kent, who passed away in June 2023 at the age of 45, left a lasting impression on DiGiovanni. “He had three Michelin stars, but he’d show up to work every day in this fancy pair of sneakers,” DiGiovanni remembers fondly. “What I loved and admired about him was… he didn’t take anything in the kitchen too seriously. And was just so nice.”
Kent’s approach – combining culinary excellence with a down-to-earth attitude – clearly resonates with DiGiovanni’s own style. It’s an ethos that’s visible in DiGiovanni’s content, where high-level culinary techniques are presented with a playful, accessible touch.
These diverse influences – from his great-grandmother’s century of home cooking to the innovative techniques of Michelin-starred chefs – have shaped DiGiovanni’s unique approach to food and content creation.
The Future of Food Content
DiGiovanni’s content focus has shifted primarily to YouTube, where he appreciates the platform’s flexibility. “What I love about YouTube is that it’s really given me that kind of full creative freedom to make any video as long as I want it to be,” he explains. This freedom allows him to create content ranging from quick five-minute videos to epic four-and-a-half-hour productions.
Looking ahead, DiGiovanni is excited about potential collaborations and expanding his reach beyond just the culinary world. “We continue to branch out more and more and create things that we think are going to be really fun and exciting,” he shares.
Beyond content creation, DiGiovanni is also venturing into product development with his brand Osmo, currently focused on salt and seasonings but with plans to expand into other kitchen essentials.
As Nick DiGiovanni continues to push the boundaries of culinary content creation, one thing is clear: his passion for food and teaching others is at the heart of everything he does. Whether he ultimately surpasses Gordon Ramsay in YouTube subscribers or not, DiGiovanni has already carved out a unique and influential place in the world of food media. His journey from a young cooking enthusiast to a digital culinary sensation serves as an inspiration to aspiring chefs and content creators alike.
