Australian food vlogger Steven Greig prepares tacos, a traditional Mexican dish.

Steven Greig , an Australian food vlogger who has playfully adopted the nickname “Big Head,” is known for his engaging cooking videos and distinctive wit. He jests, “If you have a big head, there’s no need to fret about the rain 一 people may carry umbrellas, but I have my big head.”

Since launching his presence on Xiaohongshu in 2020, Greig has captivated audiences with his culinary prowess. His engaging cooking videos have rapidly won him a devoted fan base. Today, Greig’s Xiaohongshu account, “Foreigner Big Head (老外大頭),” enjoys a significant following of more than 165,000 admirers.

Being a food vlogger isn’t Greig’s profession. Rather, he shares his culinary skills with people purely out of passion.

Several months ago, for work reasons, Greig relocated to Shenzhen. Currently, he is chief China representative’ at Handpicked Wines, overseeing sales and marketing of the company’s imported Australian wine.

From Australia to China

“I’m China’s son-in-law (I have a Chinese wife), deeply fond of this country. China has become like a second home to me. Actually, I now see China as my home, with Australia being my second home,” Greig told Shenzhen Daily.

Greig began studying Chinese in 1989 and received a full scholarship to come to China for his studies in 1991.

Greig recalled that when he was a teenager, his father consistently advised him to study Chinese in university. Perplexed by this advice, Greig asked his father why he was so adamant about him learning the language. “He said, ‘In the future, China will become a superpower. When China becomes a superpower, with your foreign face and Chinese language skills, you will always have a job.’ Thank you, Dad. I haven’t been unemployed,” Greig said appreciatively.

During his two years in China, Greig spent his breaks traveling around the country, backpacking solo from Inner Mongolia to Sanya and from Taiwan to Xizang. After graduating, he returned to Australia and worked as a Chinese teacher for a year before taking on various other China-related roles.

“All the jobs I’ve done are related to China. I’ve worked in the clothing business, as well as in household appliances,” Greig said.

Greig has been traveling between Australia and China for over 30 years, gaining a profound understanding of Chinese culture and becoming a connoisseur of all things Chinese.

An accidental food vlogger

Since childhood, Greig has had a passion for cooking. He even aspired to become a chef in his teens. Spending much of his youth at his grandmother’s house, he learned to cook by her side.

In 2020, Greig and his wife began their culinary video-making journey. “At first, I wasn’t fully prepared, but because I’m naturally humorous and love cracking jokes, I decided to start a show, naming it ‘Big Head’s Happy Kitchen.’ Why happy kitchen? Well, at that time, many people were feeling down and stressed out. I figure if I could create a show where I could teach them to cook and make them laugh at the same time, it would be a win-win,” he explained.

In the videos, Greig instructs viewers on cooking, particularly Western cuisine. His wife assists with filming and editing. Despite initially expecting little attention, they found themselves quickly amassing a large and diverse following across different age groups.

Rediscovering youth in Shenzhen

Greig finds Shenzhen a fast-paced city. Since moving to Shenzhen, he feels revitalized. “Honestly, Shenzhen has had a profound impact on me. Physically, I’m still in good shape. I enjoy surfing as well as walking and running. But since arriving in Shenzhen, I feel like my zest for life has returned. Seeing the young people around me gives me a sense of rejuvenation 一 it’s as if I can reclaim my youth. Shenzhen is an incredible place. It has become my home now, and I absolutely love it.”

Once, Greig ran into one of his fans on the Metro. The fan was too shy to speak to him but later reached out with a message.

Greig hopes that if anyone spots him on the street and wants to chat, they won’t hesitate to do so. “Don’t be shy. Just say hello. Add me on WeChat, and let’s be friends. Having more friends is always a good thing, so be sure to add me. I love making new friends 一 the more, the merrier. With more friends, the world becomes a better and bigger place.”

So, if you see Greig walking around Shenzhen, don’t hesitate to say hello, add him on WeChat, and become friends with him.