About Me

As a mom and stepmom to four kids, I focus on Mediterranean recipes that are bold, vibrant, and practical for real life. The kind of dishes that feel abundant and soulful but can still be made on a busy Tuesday night.

My love for food started early. My mother loves to tell the story of how, at nine months old with no teeth, I gummed a stranger's baguette on a train in Paris. Apparently, determination runs deep haha.

I spent my summers in France cooking alongside my grandmother, soaking up her stews, rustic tarts, and market-fresh meals. As a teenager and into my twenties, I worked in restaurants in Rhode Island and New York, where I sharpened my instincts and deepened my respect for simple ingredients done well.

In college, I fell in love with belly dancing, which led me to spend time in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. I immersed myself in the food culture, eating in souks, coastal villages, and family kitchens. Women welcomed me in and taught me their time-honored recipes. That generosity shaped the way I cook and share food today.

I'm now married to a Lebanese man, and many of his childhood favorites have become staples on our table. Cooking is how I express love. It is how I connect to my roots. It is how I nourish my family.

Here on Lola Jay Yum, I share Mediterranean recipes that are tested, approachable, and deeply flavorful. From mezze spreads to slow-simmered stews to weeknight pastas with olive oil and herbs, everything is rooted in real tradition but designed for modern family life.

If you want Mediterranean food that feels authentic but doable, you're in the right place.

And if you believe life is too short to eat bad food, we're going to get along just fine!

Some of my cooking videos have even been licensed for television, including the series Harlem Globetrotters: Secrets of the City.

Don't forget to subscribe 😉