ABOUT.
THE MISSION
“DISCOVERING LIFE IN A JAR”
My aim is to bring you adapted recipes that are easy to make at home, and to make you discover the beauty and de-mystify the process of fermentation.
My hope is that through continuous sharing of recipes, I will be able to reach your table and help you start to love fermentation and everything in a jar.
Even though they are often seen as too complicated, I’ll endeavour to make these “magic potions” simple.
Follow me on this Journey - to discover all things JAR related, with a hint of REBELLION.
Naomi ELIE
(In short)
Jars, jars, food, jars, rebel, jars, jars, rebel, jars, nature, and more jars.
(In full)
Born a francophone Canadian, my family moved to Asia when I was a toddler. Growing up in Singapore and Shanghai immersed me in rich cultural and culinary settings. This is where my passion for discovery of new tastes and preparation methods all began.
I have had the chance to explore and develop my culinary experiences and palette at a very young age, through travel and personal hands-on experience, constantly concocting adaptations of traditional and new recipes.
Initially having studied Communications in Montreal, I eventually decided to pursue a path more in line with my passion. I attended Vatel Brussels and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in International Business and Hospitality Management.
This degree gave me an inside look into the industry, allowing me to discover my profound love for Food & Beverage, both the job and the people involved.
Vatel taught me discipline and organisation, igniting an appreciation of the work carried out within the hospitality and F&B industry. My love for working in the service industry flourished.
Throughout the multiple internships in Asia and Europe, I have experienced the different facets of the industry. From restaurants to hotels, back-of-house to front-of-house, being a maid, receptionist, line cook, waitress, to working as an events coordinator and marketing assistant.
Nonetheless, this experience has also made me realise the extremely traditional and restrictive culture of the industry and its education. It has given me the urge to challenge these culinary norms by creating something of my own.
Fermentation and the use of bacteria and yeast to transform raw products has always been a fascination for me. The fact that they are living organisms embodies and accentuates this fascination.
Fermentation granting such flexibility in the types of products that can be created, and the ability to see the chemical changes occurring within the jar is what initially drew me to beginning this journey. Giving a visual into the contents teeming with life.
The culinary rebel is part of me.
Bisous,
REBEL with JARS
Naomi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
I have created this page because I have found that people are not acknowledged or thanked enough. And I wanted people to know that even though, I am alone creating and working on this website, managing the social media, writing recipes and taking and editing photos, I am actually not alone. Even though you might not know the person behind each name that I mention, I want them to know that without all of them, I would not be accomplishing this, I wouldn't have a website, I wouldn't have well written recipes and etcetera. I have my friends and family to thank for that. So here is a list of people that I want to thank with all my heart for always believing in me and helping me.
Thank you for everything and eternally grateful to have you all in my life,
Je vous aime,
Bisous à tous,
Rebel with Jars
Naomi Elie
Shout-outs
The biggest shout out is to my Mum. She is the one that has given me this passion I have for all living things, especially the microorganisms in fermentation. Seeing the beauty in everything. The passion that I have for food. She is not only my mother but my best friend, my editor, my idea extractor, my cheerleader, my hand model, my item holder, my photography assistant, my social media adviser. You name it and she is it. I owe my puppy excitement of all things to her.
I’d like to equally shout out my Dad, for giving me the fearlessness that I use in making this and also encouraging to pursue what I love. To always being there for guidance and my number 1 taster.
Thank you, Aubin, for always being my number one fan, for being my editor, my shoulder to cry on, my 4 am call for excited ideas, for always pushing me to see new ways of doing things and the person I can always rely on.
Dominique always there to pick up my random calls and messages to ask about my syntax, to being my national geographic commentator on holidays and always being there for me. Must not forget to thank you for trying all my recipes ahead of time and validating them. She defo needs a big thank you.
Audrey, for being able to see the potential and never scared to question my decisions. Shout out for having the patience to teach me not only how to use Illustrator but Photoshop, InDesign and Wix. For always replying to my idea messages and sending me inspirations.
Victoire for being my emotional rock. Always having my back and being the earth to my clouds. For always encouraging whatever I jump into. To having put up living with me for 3 years and to also being my editor and guinea pig for all my recipes. And also being able to help me choose a good profile picture.
Shout out to Michèle my cousin for being excited about my recipes and wanting to try them out (trying them out but then only get halfway cause you got distracted) Thank you for your knowledge of a scientist and helping me with difficult science words when researching about fermentation and having the patience and time to explain each concept in depth.
Shout out to Paulien for her unwavering support, kindness and energy. You are an inspiration.
Emma Louise, for giving me your contagious bubbling energy and your unwavering support.
Capucine for accepting to do a workout every day on zoom during quarantine and re-reading my recipes and being my crochet partner.
Michèle Plomer for being a gorgeous human being, for radiating confidence, superb energy, fantastic knowledge, for inspiring me to write and for always being there.
Florence and Stephane. Stephane always ready to throw me new ideas, challenges and options, to always dreaming 1000x bigger. Florence always ready to put my feet back on earth and encouraging me.
Yassine for being a butterfly that inspires me to constantly fly around and observe people for just being people and never staying in one place for too long. To making the mundane exciting.