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From her infectious laugh to her heart-warming stories, 's food journey is one steeped in joy, connection and culture. The Australian chef, presenter and author leans into her Soviet upbringing, sharing stories and recipes from all corners of the world.
Born in Georgia, part of the former Soviet Union, Zaslavsky spent much of her childhood in the garden of her grandfather's dacha (weekend house) picking fruit, watering vegetables and chasing butterflies.
"Even though the Soviet Union is associated with rations and empty shelves, Georgia was quite a fertile place for growing food," Zaslavsky explains. "My fondest childhood memories are sitting outside in the vegetable patch, gorging on plums, figs, cucumbers and tomatoes…it felt like the land of plenty."
Zaslavsky had a major culture shock when her family emigrated to Australia in 1991. She spoke little English, so she befriended kids at school by offering them popular lunchbox snacks including Dunkaroos and Nutella. These early years set Zaslavsky up for a career in teaching and writing because they taught her the importance of language and how to communicate with her peers.
A young Alice in the garden Source: Supplied
"Having spent those years not being understood, I'm very empathetic and conscious," she explains. "When I interview people, my goal is to actively listen and help them express themselves to the best of their abilities."
Being multilingual gives Zaslavsky a different understanding and appreciation of language. "Words look different in my head. When I write, there's a different kind of bounce to my tone because I'm thinking about it in different languages and in a lyrical way."
Alice's trade offs earned her a group of friends to party and eat pizza with Source: Supplied
My fondest childhood memories are sitting outside in the vegetable patch, gorging on plums, figs, cucumbers and tomatoes…it felt like the land of plenty.
Zaslavsky's early cooking experiences also left a mark on her, paving the way for her eventual career in food. From shaping pelmeni (Russian dumplings) with her babushka to whipping up fresh satsibeli (Georgian tomato sauce) with her grandfather, Zaslavsky's childhood cooking memories are filled with love, tradition and an appreciation of fresh ingredients. But her family's culinary prowess extended beyond this; Zaslavsky's grandfather brewed his own beer, her grandmother made pickles and ferments, and her parents were experts in their own right, with her father being a grill master and her mother crafting exquisite desserts.
Now a beloved cook and award-winning author, Zaslavsky embraces her insatiable appetite for food and culture.
Alice Zaslavsky as a child, in the kitchen with her dad. Source: Alice Zaslavsky
"I'm always curious, which keeps me excited and inspired in everything that I do," she says. "I love meeting new people, learning from them, and also connecting with them through food."
Food has also been a gateway for Zaslavsky to connect with her Georgian culture, which she took for granted in her youth.
"I didn't lean into my Soviet past and history growing up," she says. "It wasn't until [cooking show] MasterChef that I realised I could tap into my unique culinary heritage and share it with people around the world too."
Zaslavsky now loves solving kitchen disasters with her four-year-old daughter, Hazel, who is currently learning to cook. Whether it's peeling vegetables, chopping fruit, stirring batter or cracking eggs, these bite-sized moments take her back to where her journey began.
Alice at home where she likes to cook with and for her family Source: Supplied
Through her work, Zaslavsky encourages Australians to expand their culinary palates even more, and reminds them that even the biggest kitchen disaster can be solved.
"I'm naturally an optimist, a glass-half-full person, which is something I take to my cooking."
Love the story? Follow the author Melissa Woodley here: Instagram . Photos supplied by Alice Zaslavksy.
