Andrew Rea, better known by his online persona Babish, is an American YouTuber, cook and author who created Binging with Babish, one of the most popular cooking channels in the world. His signature idea – recreating the dishes that appear in films and television – turned a film-industry background into a food-media empire now known as the Babish Culinary Universe.
Calm, precise and quietly funny, Rea is not a classically trained chef but a self-taught cook and skilled filmmaker whose editing, narration and attention to detail helped define the modern cooking-video format.
TL;DR
- American YouTuber, cook and author, born 2 September 1987 in Mendon, New York
- Creator of Binging with Babish, now the Babish Culinary Universe
- Best known for recreating food from films and TV shows
- Trained in film, not in a professional kitchen
- Author of several cookbooks, including the New York Times best-seller Binging with Babish (2019)
Andrew Rea (Babish) key facts
| Born | 2 September 1987, Mendon, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Binging with Babish (YouTube) |
| Background | Film studies; digital effects |
| Based in | Brooklyn, New York |
From Rochester to film
Andrew Douglas Rea was born on 2 September 1987 in Mendon, New York, and grew up in nearby Rochester. His mother taught him to cook when he was young, but she died when he was eleven; as a teenager he returned to cooking partly as a way to feel close to her. He went on to study film, graduating from Hofstra University with a degree in film studies and production in 2009, and then worked as a digital effects artist – skills that would later shape his cooking videos.
Binging with Babish
Rea launched the first episode of Binging with Babish in February 2016, inspired by a burger cook-off from the sitcom Parks and Recreation. The pseudonym “Babish” came from a character in The West Wing. The concept – carefully recreating dishes seen in movies and TV – combined with his clean filming and dry narration, struck a chord, and the channel grew rapidly. It expanded into related series such as Basics with Babish and eventually rebranded as the Babish Culinary Universe, a full production operation.
Books and studio
Rea has published several cookbooks, including Eat What You Watch (2017), the New York Times best-seller Binging with Babish (2019), and a book based on the Basics with Babish series (2023). He films his shows from a purpose-built, two-kitchen studio in his Brooklyn townhouse, reflecting how far the channel has come from its self-shot beginnings.
Signature style
Rea’s appeal lies in the mix of pop-culture curiosity and genuine technique. He treats a cartoon sandwich or a movie feast with the same seriousness a chef would bring to a classic dish, explaining the how and why as he goes. The result is approachable, meticulous and often surprisingly educational cooking – a format many later creators would imitate.
Andrew Rea in context
Rea is one of the pioneers of modern cooking video, alongside other creators featured on Pickup Table 4 such as Joshua Weissman and Guga.
Follow Babish
Babish Culinary Universe on YouTube
Andrew Rea FAQ
Who is Babish?
Andrew Rea, the American YouTuber and cook behind Binging with Babish and the Babish Culinary Universe.
What is Binging with Babish about?
Recreating dishes that appear in films and television, explained step by step.
Is he a trained chef?
No – he studied film and is a self-taught cook.
Where does the name Babish come from?
From the character Oliver Babish in the TV series The West Wing.
Has he written cookbooks?
Yes – including Eat What You Watch (2017) and the best-selling Binging with Babish (2019).
