An anonymous hospitality worker, known online as @sluttycheff, has become an unlikely social media sensation after posting a satirical Instagram post about a trial shift. The post, which mocked a chef's all-male kitchen staff, garnered over 8,500 likes and catapulted the account to fame.
The post was a response to Thomas Straker, a TikTok chef with two million followers, who shared a photo of his kitchen team—eight white men. This sparked debate about diversity in London's restaurant scene. Straker initially called for 'solutions, not problems' but later apologised and committed to ensuring diversity.
Slutty Cheff, a mid-level chef at a well-regarded London restaurant, said she wrote the post 'in bed, hungover, on my phone'. Within days, her follower count rose from 1,000 to over 12,000, and she published a piece in Vogue. She said she was 'incredibly overwhelmed' by the response.
Despite the attention, Slutty Cheff insists her intentions are not vitriolic. 'I want to make people laugh,' she said. However, she believes progress is needed in the industry, particularly for women. 'Female chefs have been messaging me to say thank you,' she added.
Looking ahead, Slutty Cheff plans to continue posting but not about Straker. She also has designs on writing a book championing women in the kitchen. 'I would love women chefs to have more coverage,' she said.
