To describe Big Zuu as larger-than-life doesn’t really conjure the sheer personality of the man. Enthusiastic, jovial and incredibly funny, the rapper, grime MC, and presenter first burst onto our screens with Big Zuu’s Big Eats, and his star quickly rose as one of the country’s favourite foodie personalities. Born in West London to a Sierra Leonean mother and Lebanese father, Big Zuu was born Zuhair Hassan. An unwavering love of music, food and conviviality mixed with his say-it-at-he-sees-it-manner and megawatt smile are instantly recognisable and make for heart-warming, hilarious television.
His latest show, 12 Dishes in 12 Hours, shows Zuu, as you’d expect from the name, covering cities across Europe, including Valencia, Bologna, and Amsterdam, eating 12 dishes in 12 hours. He explores each place with a different celebrity friend. The first episode kicks off with him in Bologna alongside close friend and Marvel star Will Poulter, trying local delicacies such as Certasino (a classic Bolognian Christmas cake), ice cream with balsamic – “you’ve got to try it!” Zuu enthuses, “It’s actually crazy good” – and, of course, ragu.
Biz ZuuSharmarke Abdi
The idea for Zuu’s latest show is, as he describes it, a “continuation of the big, vibrant food” we saw in Big Zuu’s Big Eats. “We wanted to give good reasons why we’re going to places,” he explains, “showing people exactly what to eat and where. It was great fun to make, but not easy, because trying 12 different dishes in 12 hours wasn’t simple; it was a serious challenge.” He admits that for him, travelling is, first and foremost, about the food. “There are people who fly without thinking about food”, he tells me, but “those people are quite different to me!”
And, when he wants to “get away from London without flying away,” it’s Manchester that pulls at his heartstrings, not to mention his appetite. Mani (as he calls it) is home to many of his friends and a city he has visited more times than he can recall. “It’s a big vibe, and if you’ve ever had a night out in Mani, you’ll understand. It’s great fun, and the people are very kind and genuine. There’s a huge warmth to Manchester, and the people are really great in terms of how they welcome you and interact with you.”
As such, Big Zuu takes a break from eating 12 Dishes in 12 Hours to chat all things Manchester with us.
San Carlo
San Carlo
San Carlo
“San Carlo is an Italian restaurant where I always start with dinner before a night out with friends. It’s very famous for how big and extravagant it is, but it’s not very expensive. You can go with 10 of your friends and have a really nice meal and you’re not spending a stupid amount of money. It’s very good quality and the vibe when you go in is so good because it’s always packed full of people.”