Gaz Oakley

Gaz Oakley is a Welsh chef, cookbook author, and popular digital content creator renowned for his creative culinary content, plant-forward recipes, and homesteading lifestyle. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Oakley originally gained widespread online prominence under the brand name "Avant-Garde Vegan," sharing vibrant food photography, instructional cooking tutorials, and inventive plant-based meals across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Over the course of his social media career, he has built a global following of millions who tune in for his visually appealing dish presentations, gardening journey, and sustainable living content.

Early Culinary Career and Online Rise

Oakley's interest in food began at an early age while watching his father cook at home in Cardiff. At fifteen, he took on work experience in a professional kitchen, which motivated him to leave formal schooling at sixteen to pursue full-time culinary training. He spent several years working long hours in fine-dining restaurant and hotel kitchens across Wales. Seeking a healthier work-life balance, Oakley later transitioned out of commercial restaurant kitchens into sales, allowing him more time for personal fitness and home cooking. During this transition, he adopted a plant-based lifestyle and began experimenting with new cooking techniques to re-imagine classic dishes. In 2016, he launched his social media presence under the "Avant-Garde Vegan" handle, sharing aesthetically styled dishes that quickly attracted a vast international audience.

Cookbooks and Major Collaborations

Following his online success, Oakley expanded his career as an author and culinary innovator. He published several widely acclaimed cookbooks, including "Vegan 100" (2018), "Vegan Christmas" (2018), "Plants-Only Kitchen" (2020), and later "Plant to Plate." Beyond publishing, Oakley collaborated with high-profile food brands and restaurant chains, notably partnering with Wagamama and The Vurger Co. to craft featured plant-based dishes for their official menus. His high-energy tutorials and approachable step-by-step recipes helped democratize creative plant-based cuisine for both beginner cooks and experienced food enthusiasts worldwide.

Homesteading and Current Content

In recent years, Oakley shifted his focus towards homesteading, organic gardening, and self-sufficiency in rural Wales. Transitioning his main digital branding to his personal name, Gaz Oakley, he documents the daily responsibilities of growing homegrown vegetables, foraging, herbalism, and slow living. Through short-form videos on TikTok alongside longer-form YouTube episodes, Oakley continues to inspire millions of food lovers by promoting a farm-to-table lifestyle centered around seasonality, sustainability, and mindful living.