By Leigh O’Connor.
When COVID crashed the party, Nat’s What I Reckon exploded onto our screens, encouraging champions the world over to bin the jar sauce and have some laughs in the kitchen and everywhere else.
Get ready Perth…this sweary TikTok cooking sensation is about to appear at the Good Food & Wine Show bringing his own quirky style to this annual event.
The Perth Good Food & Wine Show, presented by Kleenheat, runs from today until Sunday, July 21 at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre promising three days of good food, good wine and good times.
We got the chance to chat with Nat this week about budget cooking tips and the importance of mental health awareness and education.
With more than 2 million dedicated followers and a cumulative 100 million views across platforms, Nat has carved out a distinct niche in the culinary and entertainment spheres, captivating audiences with his humorous take on everyday life and his unapologetic approach to cooking.
"I have spent many years on the dole trying to make as much food for myself and as many mates as I could, so trust me, it is possible to make cheap easy meals, but ya gotta play it smart and dodge the pre-made stuff,” Nat says. "Hit that local fresh food joint up on the corner, promise it will have some absolute cracker deals.
"Bulk buy cheap sh*t where you can, if ya live in a share house, try getting everyone to chip in a small amount like 5-10 bucks and you will be eating like a well-fed lot of champions in no time.”
Nat recommends roast chicken for team feeding as it can feed around five people for about $10, maybe 20 with some roast veg thrown in, making the dinner less than $5 per person and without needing to do much for the meal.
"Cover ya chicken with a bit of olive oil and paprika, stuff it with something cheap like a big slice of orange or lemon, some garlic and fresh herbs you saw growing on the side of the road, bunch it all in the oven and in an hour and a half, you’re sorted.
"When ya go for a walk down the street next time, keep a look out for rosemary, you’re doing a community service by trimming that out-of-control bush, trust me. Bulk buy spices from a small business that has a ‘bring your own jar’ policy and get wild in that kitchen – treat it like an unsupervised science class and see what wild creations you can come up with!
"Make a few mistakes, it helps and we all do it.”
Overall, Nat says if you are a bit tight on bucks, keep your eyes peeled for cheap, flexible and simple ingredients.
"Look up what meals you can make with those ingredients online so you avoid boring the sh*t out of yourself eating the same sh*t night after night (unless you like that? Which I do sometimes). Things like fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, potatoes, tinned beans, lentils, pasta, risotto and rice are a solid way to eat well and vary meals without having to burn a hole in ya wallet.”
Nat's upcoming appearance at the Perth Good Food & Wine Show is an excellent opportunity to delve into his journey from internet sensation to bestselling author and advocate for mental health awareness, with all proceeds from his debut book Un-cook Yourself: A Ratbag’s Rules For Life being donated to Beyond Blue.
He says the word ’important’ when used in connection to raising mental health awareness is putting it lightly:
"It is of paramount importance that we talk about this sh*t and often. Imagine not talking about the safety of wearing a seatbelt and just waiting to chat about looking after yourself at the scene of an accident?
"That is 100% how I see mental health. Tired and dangerous attitudes like ‘man up’ or ‘shut up and get on with it’ need to get in the bloody bin and be replaced with more realistic and inclusive language like ‘speak up’ and ‘you’re not on your own.
"No one should have to suffer alone. The dark and lonely feelings of mental health distress and powerful and scary sh*t, they need to be met with tenderness, support and community – not brick walls of silence!”
