About me

I am Jeannie Maristela, a Cooking Shows couch potato veteran turned baker, chef and photographer. Chef by day, goddess of scrumptiousness by night and closet M&M peanuts addict.

I come from a family of great home cooks. Both my grandmothers used to sell home cooked dishes to their loyal patrons back in their day. I would always observe with an eye of a hawk how my grandmothers and both my parents do mise en place, their cooking techniques and how they would meticulously prepare and cook our meals. They are my first culinary mentors and I owe everything to them my absolute love and fascination for food and cooking.

From when I was 6 or 7 years old, I found myself to be more interested watching cooking shows on television. I would instantly trade my daily cartoon shows with Wok With Yen, The Frugal Gourmet, Julia Child and Company, Julia Child & Jacques Pépin Cooking at Home and Jacques Pepin: Fast food My Way. You see I am really a cooking shows couch potato veteran and I am very proud of this title. My fondness or you might say, my addiction for cooking shows ever since I was a child has lead me to my sincerest passion in life, and that is to become a chef, create dishes and meals that I personally enjoy eating and exhibit the awesomeness and beauty of food through the photos I take.

I still have a long way ahead to fulfilling my dreams in the culinary world. But I am very sure I will enjoy every bumpy and smooth ride along the way.

Cooking Influences

Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Marcus Samuelsson, Rick Bayless, my parents and Grandmothers.