Brazilian-born Bianca Rodrigues-Perry is a talented and self-taught chef and foodie based in Leamington Spa. She is also the face of the hugely popular Bia’s Kitchen Show, which is streamed to audiences on YouTube, Spotify, Instagram and Facebook. The show, launched a year ago, champions local independent businesses, with many restaurateurs and chefs taking guest spots. Here, she talks exclusively to What’s On Magazine...

Your journey from a high-flying marketing career in Rio de Janeiro to self-taught chef and TV host in the UK is incredibly inspiring, Bia. What motivated you to turn to cooking as a way to reinvent yourself?
From a young age, cooking was a cherished activity my mother and I shared. I even enjoyed pretending to cook just for fun. On Sundays, we would prepare lunch together by visiting the farm to gather fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits. This experience instilled a deep sense of belonging in me; it was a magical time where there was no divide between kids and adults as we all worked together.

For me, cooking is about helping others while discovering what you love in the process. This philosophy drives me and is the essence of my book. If sharing my personal journey can inspire and assist those who are facing challenges, that brings me immense satisfaction. Empowering others is what fuels my own empowerment.

Since its launch a year ago, Bia’s Kitchen Show has grown into a platform that celebrates local food businesses. What inspired you to create this show, and what do you hope viewers take away from it?
The idea started as a pilot for TV, as I thought it might be quite fun and I don’t see much in the way of promoting independents who work their socks off. It just carried on from there, really, and Instagram is quite short to convey that message.

I am passionate about combining my knowledge of food and international flavours, and marketing and production in a way that also involves my community. I have a passion for telling people’s stories. It’s about creating a buzz around the local foodie scene, and I hope viewers are inspired by both the recipes and the stories of the incredible creatives behind them.

How has food been a lifeline for you through mental health struggles, and how do you hope to inspire others in similar situations?
Moving from Brazil to England 16 years ago was a profound shock for me. I felt I had lost my identity; in Brazil, I was someone. Upon arriving in Warwickshire, I became a pregnant wife, unfamiliar with the culture and weather, without a support system since my family and friends were back home. I felt lost, and descended into a dark place. For years, I struggled with post-natal depression, while at the same time, my eldest daughter was facing serious health challenges, including surgery to remove one of her lungs at just four years old. Then, in 2021, our family was heartbroken when my brother-in-law tragically took his own life.

Amidst all this turmoil, I turned to my lifeline: food. I realised that everything circles back to my passion for cooking. I thrive on the energy and enthusiasm of others who share my love for food. I see cooking as a form of art, and I believe that art can serve as therapy for many, helping them navigate mental-health challenges. Food and cooking are close to my heart, and it would be unwise not to leverage them to support my own mental wellbeing. After all, cooking is truly the universal language of love.

Your new book, Bia’s Kitchen Show: The Cookbook - A Culinary Journey Of Gratitude, features not only your own recipes but also contributions from local chefs and artisans. How did you approach curating this diverse collection?
The book shares great recipes from the fantastic local chefs and artisans who appeared on my show throughout the year, as well as some of my own. The idea behind it is to hopefully inspire, with the message that you can have a bad day or a bad period in your life and come back with a determination to succeed all over again. Hence the title, A Culinary Journey Of Gratitude. Through food and through supporting other people, we can all do better.

This is a fantastic cookbook full of gratitude, community and flavour, and discovering how cooking can heal and bring people together.

You are donating the profits from your book to Mind Warwickshire. Why is this cause so important to you, and how does it tie into the themes of your show and cookbook?
Food has been a significant part of my personal recovery journey from a very dark time. I embrace it as a form of therapy. There is never just one path to overcoming depression. If we look deeply into our hearts, we often discover that the most important sources of happiness are free. For me, cooking and serving others are my passions. Unfortunately, we couldn’t help my brother-in-law, Oli, find what would restore his joy, but through the charity MIND, we can support many people. It felt appropriate for the proceeds from this first cookbook to benefit a cause that is dear to my heart.

As a self-taught chef, what advice would you give to aspiring chefs or entrepreneurs who want to follow their passion despite challenges or setbacks?
Take a moment to write down your goals. Tune into your heart, and whatever actions you take, infuse them with love and care; this will shine through in your final product or service.

Don’t allow the opinions of others to limit your aspirations, and keep in mind that you can’t expect everyone to comprehend or put in the same effort for your vision - it’s your dream, not theirs. Continue to push ahead, and remember that no one envies those who are failing. Above all, savour the journey; to fulfil your purpose, you must understand the process.

What’s in store for Bia’s Kitchen Show in 2025?
It’s continuing to showcase the best of the UK independent food industry, this time stepping outside of the south Warwickshire area. And there’s definitely another book on the horizon. I have loved where this journey is taking me so far. And I have met so many talented entrepreneurs who have also inspired me with their own stories of resilience. It’s been a pleasure to share in their passion, and I’m proud to feature them in this first book, which, fittingly, begins my culinary ‘journey of gratitude’ in the adopted Warwickshire community I now call home.

Tune in to Bia’s Kitchen Show at: biaskitchenshow.com

Bia’s Kitchen Show: The Cookbook - A Culinary Journey Of Gratitude is available for order from Amazon, Waterstones and direct from Bia’s Kitchen Show here and through Amazon