At a time when social media is flooded with cooking clips and food advice, Sobhi’s approach stands out for its educational focus. Using animation, he breaks down kitchen fundamentals—from choosing ingredients to using spices correctly—for viewers who may be learning to cook for the first time.
Sobhi, a former government employee and merchant now living in Egypt, launched Super Chef several years ago with a much simpler format.
“I started the YouTube channel in 2017 when I was living in Gaza. My wife and I used to produce videos about cooking traditional foods,” he told Ahram Online.
Sobhi studied marine sciences but had long been interested in cooking. While developing recipes for the channel, he would often consult his wife before filming.
The project paused for several years before taking on its current form.
“Because of some circumstances we faced, I had to stop filming the videos for three years. Then I started making animated videos after taking a course in AI,” he stated, adding that he has always had a passion for cooking, video production, and editing.
The shift to animation also came from an unexpected source, his children.
“I first produced videos for my children as this was one of their school assignments. Then I started producing animated videos for the Super Chef page,” Sobhi explained. So far, he has created 83 videos.
Through the channel, Sobhi hopes to bring together culinary traditions from across the Arab world while highlighting what many kitchens share.
“The main aim of Super Chef is to teach housewives and youth proper methods of cooking. Every country has its culture in the kitchen. We are focusing on culinary culture in general, especially the common aspects of culinary heritage in Arab countries, since Arab kitchens have a lot in common,” he added.
His primary audience, he explains, is young women learning to cook for the first time.
“I target the new generation of housewives in their twenties and thirties who are just learning how to cook,” he says.
Accuracy is also a priority. Sobhi says he consults reliable sources when developing content. When producing a video about healthy diets, for example, he sought advice from nutritionists.
One topic that resonated strongly with viewers was spices.
“The video about spices that I produced went viral because many people do not know how to use spices,” he says. “Nowadays they depend on ready-mixed spices, which may not be good. It is important for a good cook to know how to use spices in the kitchen. It is better to buy whole spices and grind them at home for maximum benefit and the best taste.”
His videos now cover a wide range of topics, including healthy eating habits, cooking different types of meat and chicken, using spices effectively, selecting vegetables and fruit, and understanding the benefits of herbs, nuts, and seeds. He also highlights common cooking mistakes and shares tips for preparing balanced meals during Ramadan.
Despite growing interest from viewers, Sobhi says he is not rushing to expand beyond the videos.
“My followers ask me to start online culinary courses. However, I intend to start the courses later since videos take a long time to produce,” he says.
For now, his focus remains on building the channel.
“I currently want to focus on the videos, as I want to give the most benefit to as wide an audience as possible in the kitchen and in healthy eating habits,” he says.
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