My name is Elvia Vasquez....
better known as "Elle" amongst my friends.
I am a Real Estate Professional, by trade and by day. But I am a true foodie otherwise and my love for all things culinary comes out when I am at play and somehow fuses into all I do.
I am a Los Angeles native... and have been fortunate enough to call LA home all my life.... Having grown up amidst such diversity and in a home where most milestones and special events were celebrated over wonderful meals, made by a doting mother who happens to be an amazing cook, my palette began developing at a very early age, so it was inevitable that I would grow to develop a true love for food, all kinds of food, both sweet and savory!
In addition to being surrounded by wonderful dishes throughout my childhood, I began baking at the age of 8 when I was gifted with a Disney Cookbook by my godmother; little did she know that would be the start of a love affair with baking. As the years went by, my affinity for baking took on a life of its own and I became known amongst my friends for my rustic creations; cookies, bars, tarts, scones, cakes.... all of it!
Ironically, I didn't develop a love for cooking savory food until a much later time in my life, in my early 30's. Living on my own and choosing healthier alternatives over the common fast food, forced me to cook for myself, but my experience in the kitchen baking was what launched the easy transition to all things savory, only to be ignited by my love for entertaining friends and having gatherings where food took center stage!
Elle Living was born in 2009, from conversations and the encouragement of many friends and peers, as they saw and experienced firsthand my love and passion for all things culinary. It truly is inspired by friends and loved ones and the many meals and decadent bites shared over the years. It started as a small "occasional" blog reviewing local restaurants in the Los Angeles area and then ventured into sharing recipes and ideas for living....
Hence the name, "Elle" (my nickname) and Living... the essence of a collaboration of all the things that I love and how those things create a life that exudes that feeling, a "Joie du Vivre"!
From its humble inception, the goal was always for Elle Living to become a website that mirrored all the things that I love. For good measure I share with you some of those inspirations:
•All things culinary: I love food! I suppose that is a bit of an understatement, much more so, to all my friends and those closest to me! Food is the fundamental nature of togetherness; in our culture it is at the center of gatherings; it is what brings people together and the sustenance for life.
•Wine: It is like water to the ocean and cookies to milk.... it is what pairs best with food; like ying and yang! No more words needed!
•Travel: To walk in the paths of other peoples, to learn about their cultures, breathe their air, eat their food, learn their customs and grow by it all! My life has been enriched by those opportunities ... I have been inspired to create, and to appreciate all the differences in others and to weave those experiences into my life.
•Decor, Fashion and Being: Loving the SPACE that you are in applies to every area of our life. We get to create that "SPACE", from the place we call home, to the esthetics within that space and the decor within and around us, right down to the shoes on our feet or the handbag on my arm .... to the SPACE we are in as human beings and how we show up for ourselves and others.... We have the choice to create that... within us and around us!
•All things French: From the streets of Paris, the Lavender of Provence, to freshly baked croissants, croque monsieurs, palmiers, and macarons! The culture, the cuisine, the art, the fashion, the architecture, the language, the history.... the zest for life, or as previously referenced, what the French call, "LE JOIE DU VIVRE."
