About Poppy
Hello. My name is Poppy O’Toole (aka Poppy Cooks). I’m a 31-year-old Michelin trained chef from a small town called Bromsgrove (near Birmingham) with nearly 10 years experience working in professional kitchens and now the self-titled Potato Queen 👑 But how did I get here…
Let’s throw it back to March 2020. Covid hit and I almost instantly lost my job in London due to hospitality essentially grinding to a halt. Whilst job hunting, I moved back home with my mom, step-dad and siblings and genuinely thought lockdown would last for three weeks. After getting zero attention from my younger brother and sister due to this new platform called ‘TikTok’, I decided to give it a go and film myself making my favourite recipes. Initially to distract myself from being very unemployed, but also to finally get approval from my brother and sister. I basically wanted them to think I was cool again. Still working on it tbh but I did take my brother to a John Wick premier so I’m getting there.
After a bit of trial and error, it turned out that I LOVED creating content for social media and was kinda ok at it, plus it kept my mind busy between applying for what must have been 100s of jobs. Probs need to work on my CV writing skills looking back…
After a few months my first recipe went viral – the McDonalds hash brown. Thank you Maccys!! Big Mac girlie 4lyf. Overnight my following skyrocketed and that boost encouraged me (alongside some really lovely feedback from OG followers) to keep going and sharing what I know. And what I know REALLY well is potatoes. I kept gravitating toward spud based recipes which ultimately led me to create the ’25 days of Christmas potatoes’ series, cementing my status as potato queen. My first job was in a pub peeling potatoes so clearly it was always meant to be. Since then, I’ve never looked back. Nothing, and I mean nothing, beats a classic roastie. You can fight me on that. TOP TIER.
One year later I was lucky enough to publish my first book (Poppy Cooks: The food you need) and start to branch outside of social media and into the world of telly. I’ve had the odd TV spot (not to brag but I came 4th on Celebrity Weakest Link) and even embarrassed myself on live TV. Basically I said a rude word. I didn’t know. I definitely do now. Sorry again Matt Tebutt and BBC One. I also did a mis-teeq rap for Alesha Dixon, but that’s another story…
Anywayyyyy, fast forward to today and I’m working on my website (which hopefully you’re reading this on), releasing my fifth cookbook – Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious One Pot Cookbook in September 2025 (still not over this tbh) and hoping to do a Cat Deeley and crack America. Can you believe I still haven’t visited Dublin or Idaho yet? Did I mention my last few books have been Sunday Times bestsellers?! Honestly, pinch me.
Alongside writing a load of books, I also got secretly (but not so secretly) married in June to my long-term partner Tom. Why we decided to plan a wedding in 6 weeks, I’ll never know..but if you know us, then you’ll know that is VERY much us! We love the panic of a deadline.
If you’ve followed my journey so far, thank you!!! If you’re new to Poppy Cooks, I really really hope you like chaos and spuds – both feature A LOT.
Poppy x
P.s. Don’t forget to follow ya gal Poppy on social media or sign up to my newsletter for BTS action, delicious recipes, cooking tips, fails and pics of my dogs xx
Latest Recipes
Puff pastry dauphinois pie
Creamy, garlicky dauphinois potatoes wrapped in golden puff pastry. This indulgent puff pastry dauphinois pie is the ultimate comfort food centrepiece....
Garlic chilli cheese jacket potatoes
Garlic, chilli and cheese come together in this ultimate loaded jacket potato. Crispy skin, fluffy centre and a spicy, melty filling....
Retro porcupines
Are 70s potatoes back? Kinda... We’re back with yet another potato-based retro recipe from my YouTube series, and this time I’ve tested out the kinda adorable-sounding potato...
Jack Daniel’s pork
Try my slow cooker Jack Daniel's pork and enjoy a wildly sticky and delicious porky feast....
Asparagus & pea fricassé
Spring has arrived with my asparagus & pea fricassé Yes, viewers. I do occasionally have recipes on my website that are not beige or entirely potato-based. I know, it's absol...
Roasted garlic & chipotle honey potato gratin
The spiced potato side of your dreams I don’t say this lightly, because as you may have gathered, I’ve made a lot of potato recipes in my time, but this one is something truly...