FOOD INSPIRATION | RECIPE INNOVATION | FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Elise Wine (yes, that's my real last name)! I currently live in Los Angeles, but grew up in Boston and was born in France. I share a cozy 2-bedroom apartment with my husband, where the kitchen may be poorly lit, and the stove is electric, but that doesn’t stop me from creating and capturing delicious meals and baked goods. My wonderful husband is my handy dandy food taster and I don't think he's mad about it.
As a self-taught and mom-taught cook, my love for food and its diverse cultural roots runs deep. My mom’s work took her to places like Hong Kong, France, Portugal, and Thailand, introducing me to a world of flavors at a young age. Every time she returned, we’d experiment in the kitchen, recreating the dishes she fell in love with in each country. That sparked my love and passion for flavor and variety in food.
I believe that life is too short not to explore strange, delicious, and flavorful foods. Food is more than just sustenance; it’s a universal language that brings love, laughter, and lasting memories.
Some of my fondest memories revolve around food, from learning to roll sushi with my mom (and her endless patience) to enjoying my grandma’s special “yellow rice” during the holidays—turns out it was just saffron, but how was I supposed to know that?! Whether it’s our family’s annual New Year’s Eve sushi night out or trying out a new recipe, food has always been at the heart of my most cherished moments.
I’m thrilled to share my culinary creations and food photography with you so you can get inspired and create memories with your loved ones. Here at Loyal Olive Oil, you’ll find inspired recipes that reflect my love for bold flavors, creative presentation, and the joy that food brings.
Fun Facts: I love plain cold pasta straight from the fridge. I've been making my own sushi since I was 10. I love all things Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. I love playing video games. Yes, my last name is really Wine, and yes, I do love wine! I snort when I laugh, and I cook whenever I’m bored, angry, sad, happy, or just plain hungry—so let’s just say I cook a lot.
Welcome to Loyal Olive Oil, where food, photography, and flavor come together. BON APPÉTIT!
ABOUT MAUI
We rescued a puppy in the summer of 2020 and named him MAUI. We named him Maui because he was wandering around the beach when he was found and he has some awesome features that make him look Hawaiian (in our opinion). Also, we love Pixar movies and are obsessed with Moana. He is a goofball and loves being around when I am cooking and photographing all of the goodies.
He is a mixed breed for sure. He is mostly Chihuahua with some Toy Fox Terrier and a whole bunch of other breeds. We love him bunches and he's a model for sure so you will probably be seeing a lot of him in future photos!
His favorite foods are Beef, Salmon, Shrimp, Broccoli, yogurt, and cheese!
ABOUT US
Matt and I have been together since 2011 - Woah! We met when we were both 20 working a summer job at a movie theater. This was in a small town between our two home towns in Massachusetts. Our parent's houses being so close together makes holidays a breeze since our families are just two towns apart.
We share a huge passion for movies—so much so that we host an Oscar party every year and aim to see a new movie every week. We’re both absolutely in love with The Lord of the Rings series (seriously, the best movies ever made). We also enjoy staying active, whether it’s going on walks, hikes, or spending time at the beach (our first date was on a beach, after all).
Our college years took us to different schools in Boston. I pursued Theater at Suffolk (still asking myself, what was I thinking?!), while Matt went to MassArt for Animation, and he’s crushing it! After four years, we moved in together into a small Brighton, MA apartment with a horrendous kitchen. We met some awesome people, had amazing times, and navigated a few crazy work experiences. But after three years, we decided to take a leap and move all the way to Los Angeles.
When we arrived in LA, I had never been to California until I stepped off the plane. I was so nervous, but we’ve truly fallen in love with life here. That said, I miss my friends and family back east like crazy.
In the summer of 2020, Matt and I had a trip planned to San Diego, one of our all-time favorite places, especially Ocean Beach (OB). That’s where he proposed! Everyone says this, but it truly was amazing—I cried a lot. That same week, we adopted our fur baby, Maui! So, while 2020 was challenging for many reasons, it also turned out to be one of the best years of my life.
In the fall of 2021, we got married!!! Planning a wedding during a pandemic was no picnic, but honestly? It was a year filled with unforgettable memories, and I got to spend extra time with friends and family that I might not have had otherwise. September 18, 2021, was one of the best days of my life. Matt is the most incredible human, and I’m seriously one lucky lady. I walked down the aisle to the epic Jurassic Park Theme, and our first dance song was “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story.
What did we have to eat did you ask? We kept it true to us. Our favorite sub shop, Monica’s Mercato in Boston, catered about 100 Italian subs, and The Rusty Can, a fantastic BBQ joint, provided brisket, pulled pork, and mac and cheese. For dessert, we indulged in my all-time favorite Boston doughnuts from Union Square Donuts. Oh boy, was it amazingly delicious!
So there you have it, a little about Elise, Matt, and Maui! We’re just a couple of movie-loving, food-obsessed, adventure-seeking souls enjoying life in Los Angeles with our adorable pup.
