Hello, I'm Zoe!
Hola! My name is Zoe Forestier. I am a chef, writer, photographer, and owner of Girl Meets Fire.
I am trying to reconnect with my Puerto Rican culture, food, and traditions.
My passion is to learn about food, its history, and how it develops. As a cook, I have experienced many cuisines, and now it is time for me to immerse myself in my cultural traditions and foods.
What inspires me?
Girl Meets Fire is dedicated to bringing a delightful array of fresh and vibrant recipes, drawing inspiration from my Puerto Rican heritage and the cherished dishes that shaped my upbringing.
Because I am part of the Puerto Rican diaspora, I have felt disconnected from these recipes and traditions. My goal is to share tips and tricks to help fellow Puerto Ricans or any home cooks wishing to master Puerto Rican Recipes.
My recipes are the way my family has made them or my interpretation of what I have experienced. I do not consider them true to tradition, since it is sometimes difficult to find all the right ingredients outside of the island.
Where to start?
Feel free to check out my recipe collection. You will find recipes categorized by ingredient, seasonality, or course.
Puerto Rican Cooking wouldn't be cooking if you didn't have these recipes at the ready:
- Sofrito15 Minutes
- Puerto Rican Garlic Paste10 Minutes
- White Rice, a Versatile Ingredient.20 Minutes
- Puerto Rican Red Beans45 Minutes
These recipes are staples in the preparation or in our daily consumption in Puerto Rico.
Background
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where my summers were filled with Piraguas and Limbers (piraguas, shaved ice treats, limbers, our version of pop-ups).
When I was Fifteen my mom moved us to sunny Florida due to unresolvable issues.
Since then, I have been on a culinary journey eating, tasting, and cooking every cuisine imaginable.
With a passion for food, I thoroughly enjoy cooking traditional recipes while exploring diverse cuisines. I aim to recapture the authentic flavors of my family's culinary heritage. Moreover, I find immense joy in creating innovative dishes that draw inspiration from these traditions while ensuring they are accessible and packed with irresistible flavors.
I want to share and preserve family recipes like my favorite dish growing up: Pastelon, layers of fried ripe plantains (maduros or amarillos), savory ground beef picadillo, and Swiss cheese. Or my mom's favorite Budin de Pan ( Puerto Rican bread pudding), which is thick yet silky and mildly sweet with a hint of spices and sprinkles of raisins. My favorite Puerto Rican Empanadillas, flaky dough, and juicy ground beef are my way to honor my culture and family.
What sparked Girl Meets Fire
In a word, frustration. Girl Meets Fire as a vehicle to relieve my frustrations with my career and my realization I had lost touch with my Puerto Rican culture.
Cooking professionally brought forth many opportunities, but I realized I was not cooking what I wanted to cook. Although I saw similarities in some cuisines, I also noticed how little I knew of my traditional dishes.
I decided to move back in with my mother to support one another. This allowed me to assist her as she grew older while imparting my children a strong sense of culture.
Food trucks, restaurants, and other business ventures buzzed through my head. My mother fell ill, and I had to stop work to care for her.
She was gone in four months after diagnosis, and I felt lost. Our one connection was food. She, too, loved to try new things. So, Girl Meets Fire was born.
I realized I wanted a business where I could work wherever I was and still create and cook. This website has allowed me that and more.
Culinary Experience
I have a 22-year professional culinary career beginning at the Dolphin Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. I worked at a fine-casual dining Mexican Restaurant named Juan and Only's and cross-trained in all restaurants at the resort.
My culinary career has taken me to Buffalo, N.Y., to The Top of the Falls Restaurant, where I served as Sous Chef, and back to Florida to Disney World. Working at Disney was an epic culinary experience with exposure to exotic ingredients and cuisines.
Throughout the years, I have worked in all aspects of the restaurant industry; fast food, delis, buffet, and fine dining, but none have come close to the inspiration and excitement this website brings me.
What would you find on Girl Meets Fire?
- Simple & delicious Puerto Rican-inspired and keto-friendly recipes that I've tested in my kitchen!
- An email newsletter where I share new recipes and resources with you every other week!
- All of my favorite kitchen equipment that's essential to me and techniques learned throughout the years of professional cooking.
Some of my favorite recipes
These recipes are either Puerto Rican or Ketogenic. I am currently focusing on a ketogenic lifestyle to control my weight, but I struggle when missing a particular Puerto Rican dish. I hope to create recipes that hit the spot, but not all recipes can be interchanged.
Feel like we can collaborate? Hit me up, and we could meet up! [email protected]