Hi there! I’m Emily, a 33 year-old home cook born and raised in the heart of Canada, now stirring up joy in a cozy apartment in New York City. Cooking has always been my love language, and luckily, I found someone who speaks it fluently my husband and best sous-chef, Jake. Together, we spend our evenings dancing around our tiny kitchen, experimenting with flavors, swapping spoons, and creating dishes that tell stories.

I didn’t go to culinary school, and I don’t wear a white coat unless it’s the one I grab when running out for herbs in winter. What I do have is a deep-rooted passion for food that’s been simmering since I was a little girl in Montreal, standing on a stool next to my grandmother as she taught me to knead dough by feel, not by measure. Those early memories became the base stock for a life steeped in flavors, textures, and the kind of joy that only a lovingly prepared meal can bring.

What You’ll Find on SwirlRecipes

SwirlRecipes is where Jake and I pour our hearts and our many taste tests into every recipe we share. Here, you’ll find real food made in a real home kitchen, tested by two people who believe that a great dish doesn’t have to be complicated to be magical.

We share everything from hearty comfort meals for rainy days to light, zesty bites for summer evenings on the fire escape. Our recipes often come with a twist a dash of spice where you’d least expect it, a swap that came from running out of an ingredient, or a blend inspired by the fusion of our Canadian roots and our New York lifestyle.

We write for you, the home cook who wants to make meals that taste like they took hours, even if you only have 30 minutes. You’ll find little stories in our instructions, honest notes on what worked (and what needed a redo), and plenty of encouragement to trust your instincts.

Why I Do This

Cooking, to me, is more than nourishment it’s connection. Every recipe I write, every photo we take, is an invitation to our kitchen, to sit with us, laugh with us, and maybe spill a little flour along the way. I do this because food has the power to bring people together. It has brought me closer to Jake, made our tiny kitchen feel like the heart of a home, and helped me feel rooted in a city that once felt too big.

I believe cooking at home should feel rewarding, not overwhelming. That it’s okay to burn the first batch. That your grandmother’s lasagna and our spicy maple tofu can live side-by-side on your table. I share our recipes because they carry pieces of our life, and I hope they bring warmth and flavor to yours.

So, welcome to SwirlRecipes where a Canadian girl and her New Yorker guy cook, laugh, and share everything we’ve learned (and messed up) along the way.

Emely
Founder & Chief Food Tinkerer at Swirl Recipes