When Grandma goes viral on social media for her comfort food

DUSSELDORF, Germany - Skip the eggs when breading cutlets, simmer red cabbage in grape juice instead of water and cook pasta separately to keep your soup clear.

These homespun tips - once passed quietly from one generation to the next - now reach thousands each week through the social media posts of Vanessa and her grandmother Annemarie (@OmaUndVanessa).

"We're making beef soup today," says Annemarie, addressing the camera held by her 37-year-old granddaughter. She cooks, Vanessa films, and together they guide viewers step by step through traditional dishes made from simple ingredients.

What was once passed down at the kitchen table now plays out online. Annemarie doesn't quite know what TikTok or Instagram are - and isn't concerned. She's simply pleased to be helping people "somewhere on the internet."

A roast goes viral

It began with a crispy pork roast. "Grandma simply makes the best one," Vanessa says. Keen to preserve the recipe as more than a few scribbled notes, she turned her phone on Annemarie as she worked - searing the meat, scoring the rind, sprinkling salt by instinct rather than measure.

On a whim, Vanessa posted the video to TikTok, where she had been sharing snippets of her daily life. Within days, the clip of the duo, who do not wish to reveal their real names to the public, racked up millions of views.

That first post in September 2024 set off a steady stream of videos - and with them, a growing audience of thousands and millions more watching along.

Filming now happens on weekends or in the evenings after Vanessa finishes her day job at a pharmacy. It's demanding, but worthwhile: the pair have since published their own cookbook.

Their popularity reflects a broader shift online. Intergenerational duos and older creators are gaining visibility, often because they defy expectations, says social media expert and professor Hanna Klimpe. Content like this can foster "emotional stability and mutual understanding," she adds.

Made with love - and the help of an air fryer

Success online hasn't changed much in the small kitchen in the western German city of Recklinghausen.

Annemarie still reaches for the pepper mill Vanessa gave her 20 years ago rather than a sleek electric one, and trims asparagus and herbs with kitchen scissors.

Nothing is staged. "Grandma couldn't do that anyway," Vanessa says with a smile. Most of the time, Annemarie barely notices she's being filmed.

Still, a few modern touches have crept in. Keen to be a "modern grandma," as Vanessa puts it, she has embraced not one but two air fryers. And Annemarie is an enthusiastic convert.

"Chicken in there - oh! It's just brilliant," the 79-year-old says, clearly delighted. Sharing that enthusiasm, and her respect for good food, is part of why she enjoys being online.

For Annemarie, cooking is more than routine - it's purpose. She takes pride in every step, from shopping to washing up, whether a camera is rolling or not. "I've got time, after all," she says.

From internet trolls to marriage proposals

Did she use the same spoon twice? Why does the bread bowl change colour between shots? And wasn't soy sauce unheard of "back then?" Viewers notice everything. "They pick on the smallest details," Annemarie says with a shrug.

The sharper comments, though, tend to land on Vanessa. Some accuse her of being "lazy" for staying behind the camera. What they don't see is Annemarie's restless energy - and her perfectionism, which often keeps her granddaughter away from the stove.

Vanessa sometimes replies with dry humour. When remarks cross a line, she blocks them. She spares her grandmother the worst of it. But the comments are mostly affectionate.

"I've even had a few marriage proposals - just so they can eat at Grandma's," Vanessa says. Many followers send heartfelt messages, some saying the videos moved them to tears. Alongside cooking tips, Annemarie offers something less tangible but just as valued: a sense of comfort.

A virtual grandparent

"You get a kind of virtual grandparent," says researcher Klimpe. In a society where many people no longer live in close-knit, village-like family networks, with parents and grandparents nearby, such content meets a quiet longing for family connection and intergenerational exchange.

Some viewers even use Annemarie's videos to learn German, drawn to her slow, clear way of speaking.

How long the duo will keep sharing their cooking online depends entirely on Annemarie.

"If Grandma says tomorrow she's had enough, then that's it," Vanessa says. "But no one can take this time with her away from me right now."

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 3:33 AM.